I 


'«f7i,i^,v5?: 


|ir5t  |)as&gteri;iit  Churtir,  llduatli,  |[.  |. 

Coriier-stoiie  laid.  Sopt.  17S7.    Oir'ucU  for  woj-ship,  Jan.  1. 17yi. 


FIRST    CHURCH     IT.     >^EWARK. 


HISTOEICAL    DISCOUESES 


RELATINO   TO   THE 


|iot  Ireslj^tmitn  €\\m\  m  ^t^ml ; 


ORIGINALLY  DELIVERED  TO  THE  CONGREGATION  OF  THAT  CHURCH  DURING  THE 
MONTH  OP  JANUARY,  1851. 


BY   JONATHAN  F.*  STEARNS,  D.  D., 

PASTOR    OF   THE   CHURCH, 


WITH    NOTES     AND     ILLUSTRATIONS. 


NEWARK : 

PRINTED   AT   THE    DAILY    ADVERTISER    OFFICII. 
1853. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  A.  D.  1853,  by  Jonathan  F.  Stearns, 
in  the  Clerk's  ofl5ce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for 
the  State  of  New  Jersey. 


PREFACE. 


These  Discourses  were  prepared,  originally,  without 
the  remotest  reference  to  publication  ;  indeed,  the 
writer  had  no  intention,  at  the  beginning,  beyond  the 
preparation  of  a  single  practical  discourse,  founded  on 
a  slight  glance  at  the  histoiy  of  the  congregation,  the 
early  part  of  which  he  then  supposed  had  been  traced 
with  sufficient  minuteness  and  accuracy  ])y  another 
hand.  But  this  supposition  Avas  soon  found  to  be 
erroneous ;  and,  as  he  proceeded,  the  materials  so  grew 
upon  his  hands  that  he  was  insensibly  led  to  extend 
his  narrative  to  the  space  of  four  pulpit  discourses. 
In  prqoaring  them  for  the  press,  it  seemed  necessary 
to  pay  more  regard  to  completeness  and  accuracy  than 
had  entered  into  the  original  plan.  In  order  to  this, 
much  must  be  added,  and  many  obscure  points  care- 
fully re-examined.  The  labor  incident  to  such  inqui- 
ries no  one  knows  who  has  not  tried  the  experiment. 
The  materials  must  be  collected  from  the  widest 
spaces,  and  brought  into  true  connection  with  each 


VI  PEEFACE. 

other  by  the  most  careful  consideration  of  times  and 
circumstances.  The  determination  of  a  date  may  often 
require  to  be  pursued  through  volumes,  pamphlets, 
records  and  obscure  manuscripts,  the  examination  of 
which  will  cost  days  of  toil,  and  access  to  them  be  ob- 
tained only  by  the  tardy  process  of  correspondence,  or 
by  visiting  in  person  remote  places.  And  after  all, 
perhaps,  the  result  is  one  which  the  ordinary  reader 
will  either  not  notice,  or  regard  as  a  mere  matter  of 
course. 

In  the  pursuit  of  these  objects,  most  of  the  discourses 
have  been  entirely  re-written.  Some  of  them  have 
been  extended  to  a  length  manifestly  incompatible 
with  their  original  design.  Details  have  been  de- 
scended to,  which,  however  valuable  in  a  local  history, 
as  contributing  to  complete  the  picture  of  the  men 
and  the  times,  seem  hardly  suitable  to  the  dignity  and 
sacredness  of  the  pulpit.  And  as  scarcely  a  third  of 
the  matter  now  presented  was  contained  in  the  dis- 
courses as  delivered,  the  writer  has  hesitated  whether 
he  should  not  abandon  the  original  plan,  and  give  the 
work  the  form  of  a  continuous  narrative.  But,  besides 
the  necessit)^  of  re-casting  the  whole,  should  that 
change  be  adopted,  the  present  form  seems  to  have 
some  advantages,  at  least  for  the  people  specially  con- 
cerned ;  and  he  has  concluded  to  let  it  stand  as  it  is. 


PEEFACE.  Vii 

The  sources  from  wliicli  the  facts  have  been  drawn 
are  generally  indicated  by  foot-notes,  especially  in  the 
earlier  jjeriods.  Besides  various  well-known  histories, 
genealogical  publications,  pamphlets,  &c.,  which  need 
not  be  mentioned  here;  the  original  records  of  the 
town  of  Newark ;  the  printed  minutes  of  the  old  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia  and  the  Synods  prior  to  the 
formation  of  the  General  Assembly;  the  records  of 
the  various  Presbyteries  with  which  the  Church  has 
been  connected,  from  the  year  1774  to  the  present 
time ;  the  records  of  the  Church  as  far^as  they  extend  ; 
the  records  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  various 
packages  of  old  deeds,  wills,  letters,  &c.,  &c.,  have 
been  carefully  examined.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted 
that  the  records  of  the  Church,  extending  from  the 
year  1696  to  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  were 
destroyed  when  the  British  troops  had  possession  of 
the  town  in  1776,  and  those  which  remain  date  back 
only  to  August,  1781,  after  Dr.  Macwhorter's  return 
from  the  South. 

It  seems  necessary  to  say  a  word  respecting  the  ef- 
forts of  this  venerable  pastor  to  preserve  the  Church's 
history,  when  it  seemed  passing  into  hopeless  oblivion. 
Dr.  Macwhorter's  Century  Sermon  has  been  the  author- 
ity for  most  of  the  statements  which  have  been  made 
since  his  time.     Besides  this,  however,  he  wrote  two 


Vlll  PKEFACE. 

other  sketclies — one  in  tlie  introduction  to  the  first 
volume  of  the  Sessional  Records,  and  the  other  in  re- 
sponse to  a  call  from  the  General  Assembly  for  mate- 
rials for  a  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  This 
last  is  the  one  quoted  by  Dr.  Hodge  in  his  "  Constitu- 
tional History,"  under  the  title  of  "  Manuscript  History 
of  Dr.  Macwhorter,"  and  is  referred  to  in  this  narrative 
under  the  same  name.  All  these  sketches  contain 
material  errors.  Dr.  M.,  as  he  informs  us,  relied  for 
his  authority  chiefly  upon  tradition.  "All  I  can  say," 
says  he,  "  must. consist  of  a  few  brief  hints,  as  I  possess 
no  documents  or  written  materials  whence  even  those 
hints  are  derived,  except  what  have  been  taken  from 
the  relations  of  old  people  to  me  iii  former  times. 
Therefore  it  must  not  be  expected  that  they  will  be 
very  accurate,  nor  will  I  vouch  for  the  perfect  truth  of 
all  that  may  be  said."  As  a  specimen  of  this  inaccur- 
acy, I  may  refer  to  what  he  says  of  the  influence  of 
the  Saybrook  Platform  in  shaping  the  affairs  of  this 
Church,  years  before  that  platform  was  framed  ;  or  to 
the  case  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bowers,  whom  he  represents 
as  having  been  dismissed  for  reasons  not  now  known, 
and  to  have  died  in  1T21,  in  his  thirty-fourth  year; 
whereas  his  tomb-stone  shows  that  he  died  in  the  year 
1716,  in  his  forty-third  year,  and  the  records  of  the 
town  plainly  indicate  that  he  retained  the   pastoral 


niEFACE.  IX 

office  till  Ills  decease.  I)r.  Macwhorter's  narratives 
are  valuable,  hut  of  course  cannot  be  relied  upon, 
wherever  unquestionable  documents  contradict  tlieir 
statements.' 

In  preparing  these  discourses,  the  writer  has  received 
valuable  assistance  from  William  A.  Whitehead,  Esq., 
Dr.  S.  H.  Pennington,  Mr.  James  Ross,  Rev.  William 
E.  Schenck,  Rev.  James  Richards,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Richard 
Webster,  Rev.  Stephen  Dodd  of  East  Haven,  Rev. 
Lyman  Atwater,  D.  D.,  of  Fairfield,  Conn.,  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Sewall  of  Burlington,  Mass. ;  but  especially  from 
Mr.  S.  H.  Congar,  the  indefatigable  antiquarian  of  New- 
ark. The  map  and  its  explanations  are  Mr.  Congar's. 
Plis  thanks  are  due  to  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge,  for  the  use  of 
manuscripts  belonging  to  him  as  historian  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  Rev.  Dr.  James  W.  Alex- 
ander, for  the  use  of  letters  resj^ecting  Rev.  Aaron 
Burr,  and  the  Latin  oration  of  the  learned  President, 
to  which  reference  has  been  made  in  these  pages. 

It  can  hardly  be  presumed  that  perfect  accuracy  has 
been  secured  amidst  so  many  minute  particulars.  But, 
accidental  errors  excepted,  the  statements,  it  is  believed, 
Avill  l)e  found  reliable.  Wherever  an  opinion  has  been 
expressed,  it  has  been  introduced  distinctly  as  an  opin- 
ion, and  will  pass  for  what  it  is  worth.  Where  tradi- 
tionary statements  have  been  made,  their  source  has 


PEEFACE. 


been  indicated.  In  general,  wherever  any  doubt  has 
existed  respecting  any  fact  or  representation,  the 
authority  has  been  referred  to,  tliat  the  reader  may 
weigh  it  for  himself. 

With  these  ex2')lanations,  the  following  pages  are 
committed  to  the  judgment  of  the  candid.  If  the 
result  shall  be  to  preserve  the  memory  of  a  most 
worthy  race 'of  men,  and  the  early  fortunes  of  a  most 
useful  Christian  organization ;  if  the  spirit  of  the  fa- 
thers may  thereby  be  transferred  to  the  children,  not 
only  of  this  l)ut  of  succeeding  generations,  and  thus  a 
benefit  conferred  on  a  beloved  Church,  for  whose 
spiritual  good  it  is  the  writer's  ])leasure  to  labor,  his 
efforts  will  be  more  than  compensated. 


TABLE    OF    CONTEXTS. 


DISCOURSE  I. 

Introduction.  Relations  of  Church  and  Town.  Causes  of  the  settlement 
of  Newark.  Affairs  in  New  Haren  and  Connecticut.  State  of  the  Province 
of  New  Jersey.  The  Concessions.  Purchase  of  Newark  Township.  ''Fun- 
damental Agreement."  Object  of  the  settlers.  Internal  Regulations.  The 
name  "Newark."  Origin  of  the  Church.  Ministry  of  Abraham  Pierson, 
senior.  His  origin,  and  Missionary  labors.  Character  of  the  leading  men 
in  the  Settlement.  Wholesome  Regulations.  The  Civil  and  Divine  Right. 
Prompt  payment  of  quit-rents.  Collision  with  the  Proprietary  Government 
of  New  Jersey.  Defence  of  Rights  against  Proprietary  Encroachment. 
Conquest  of  the  Province  by  the  Dutch.  Usurpation  of  Andros.  Treat- 
ment of  the  Indians.  First  Meeting-house  erected.  Death  of  Abraham 
Pierson,  senior.  Ministry  of  Abraham  Pierson,  junior.  Glimpse  of  the 
Congregation.  Meeting-house  fortified,  and  the  worshippers  armed.  Death 
of  many  of  the  first  settlers.  Dismission  of  Abraham  Pierson,  junior.  His 
Character.     Conclusion,     (pp.  1-93.) 

DISCOURSE  ir. 

Introduction.  Second  generation  of  the  men  of  Newark.  Ministry  of 
John  Prudden.  His  origin  and  settlement.  His  dismission  and  retirement 
from  the  Ministry.  Origin  of  the  Parsonage  property.  Ministry  of  Jabez 
Wakcman.  His  character  and  early  death.  Samuel  Whittlcsy  is  invited  to 
become  Pastor,  and  declines.  Oppressive  and  vexatious  conduct  of  Lord 
Cornbury,  Rev.  Francis  Makemie  finds  .sympathizers  in  Newark.  Minis- 
try of  Nathaniel  Bowers.  Erection  of  the  second  Meeting-house.  First 
Church  in  Orange  organized.  Ministry  of  Joseph  "Webb.  Introduction  of 
Presbyterianism.  The  Church  joins  the  Presbytery  of  Pliiladelphia.  State 
of  the  Presbyterian  Churches.  Difficulties  about  candidates  for  the  Minis- 
try.  About  Government.  The  "Adopting  Act."  Modifications  and  ex- 
planations of  that  Act.  Presbytery  of  East  Jersey.  Dutch  Congregation 
at  Belleville  gathered.  Introduction  of  Episcopacy  in  New  Jersey.  Trinity 
Church  organized.  Col.  Josiah  Ogden's  relations  with  it.  Episcopal  con- 
troversy. Mr.  Webb's  dismission.  His  death  and  character.  Concluding 
remarks,     (pp.  95-149.) 


Xll  TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 

DISCOURSE  III. 

Ministry  of  Aaron  Burr.  His  origin,  early  education  and  conversion.  His 
call  and  settlement.  Revival  of  religion  in  his  congregation.  Whitefield's 
first  visit.  Burr's  character  as  a  Preacher  and  Pastor.  His  call  to  New 
Ilaven.  Ordination  of  David  Brainerd  as  Missionary  to  the  Indians  of  New 
Jersey.  Presbytery  of  New  York  formed.  The  Great  Schism  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Causes  of  it.  Attempts  at  mediation.  Remonstrance  of 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  Separation.  Formation  of  the  Synod  of 
New  Y^ork.  "  Old  side"  and  "  New  side."  College  of  New  Jersey  founded. 
Its  first  Charter  and  beginnings  at  Elizabethtown.  Temporary  suspension 
of  the  Enterprise.  New  Charter  obtained.  College  founded  anew.  Opened 
at  Newark.  Burr  appointed  its  President.  Its  first  Commencement.  Pros- 
perity of  the  College  under  President  Burr.  Mr.  Burr's  marriage.  Char- 
acter of  Mrs.  Burr.  Trustees  of  the  Church  incorporated.  Prosperity  of 
the  Synod  of  New  York.  Mr.  Burr's  influence  in  it.  Secular  prosperity  of 
Newark.  Mr.  Burr's  dismission,  and  the  removal  of  the  College  to  Prince- 
ton. Death  of  President  Burr.  Ministry  of  John  Brainerd.  Uncertainty 
about  it.  Ministry  of  Alexander  Macwhorter.  His  early  life  and  education. 
Ilis  entrance  on  the  Ministry.  His  call  and  settlement  in  Newark.  Con- 
tentions about  Parsonage  property.  Disposition  of  the  question  in  dispute. 
Macwhorter's  early  Ministry.  Attachment  of  the  people  to  him.  His  mis- 
sionary excursions,  His  estimation  with  his  brethren.  American  Revolu- 
tion. Day  of  Fasting  and  Thanksgiving.  Army  in  Newark.  Macwhorter 
follows  the  army.  Parsonage  house  rifled  ))y  the  enemy.  Macwhorter's 
removal  to  North  Carolina.  His  return  and  re-settlement.  Newark  recov- 
ers its  prosperity.  Revival  of  ITS-i.  Improvement  in  Church  Discipline. 
State  of  the  Congregation.  House  of  worship  repaired.  Present  house  of 
worship  erected.  New  mode  of  electing  Trustees.  Church  in  Bloomfield 
gathered.  Dr.  Macwhorter's  standing  in  the  Church  at  large.  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Presbyterian  Church  formed.  Baptist  and  Methodist  Denom- 
inations introduced  into  Newark.  Character,  Last  Days  and  Decease  of  Dr. 
Jfacwhorter.     His  Funeral  and  Epitaph,     (pp.  151-20L) 

DISCOURSE  IV. 

Ititroduction.  Ministry  of  Edward  Dorr  Griffin.  Mr.  Griffin's  Origin, 
Education  and  Conversion.  His  Licensure ;  Ordination  in  New  Hartford, 
Conn. ;  Marriage  ;  Temporary  Labors  in  Orange,  N.  J.,  and  Settlement  in 
Newark.  Griffin's  early  views.  His  animating  presages.  His  early  reli- 
gious experiences.     His  early  Interview  with  Mr.  Richards.     New  Parson- 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS.  XUl 

age  House  built.  Kcvival  of  1807.  Dr.  Griffin's  Dismission.  Subsequent 
life,  and  Character.  James  Richards.  Ilis  early  life.  Ministry  at 
Morristown.  Removal  to  Newark.  Presbyterj^  of  Jersey.  Plan  for  new 
Churches.  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  First  Sabbath  School.  Revivals. 
Prevalence  of  Intemperance.  Discouraging  appearances.  Removal  of  Dr. 
Richards.  His  character.  Parallel  between  Griffin  and  Richards.  Synod 
of  New  Jersey.  William  T.  Hamilton's  ministry.  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  formed.  Final  settlement  of  Church  Propert}'.  Presbytery  of 
Newark.  Revival  of  1832.  New  Churches.  Ansel  D.  Eddy's  ministry. 
Synod  of  Newark.  Synod  of  New  York  and  Now  Jersey.  New  Churches. 
Statistical  Summary.     Concluding  Remarks.     Appendix,     (pp.  2G2-311.) 


ERRATA. 

Page  12,  note,  line  2,  for  "Pan,"  read  Pau. 

17,  line  8,  for  "friends,"  should  probably  be  residi  freemen,  though  it 
is  "  friends"  in  the  manuscript  copy  of  the  Town  Records. 

17,  line  12,  the  word  "determine"  closes  the  quotation. 

19,  for  "17G7,"read  1677. 

20,  note,  line  4,  for  "north-west"  read  north-eas^. 

32,  note,  2d  column,  line  3,  for  "  his,"  read  whose;  and  line  4,  before 
"married,"  insert  was, 

36,  note,  1st  column,  line  26,  for  "Milford,"  read  Branford. 

"      "  "  lines  27  and  28,  for  "  Turner,"  read  turner. 

73,  title,  for  "  Mornings,"  read  morning. 

146,  note,  2d  column,  line  7,  "Memento  Mori"  is  to  be  enclosed  in 
marks  of  quotation,  as  a  part  of  the  inscription. 

286,  title,  for  "Prespyterian,"  read  Presbyterian. 


HISTORICAL    DISCOUESi:... 


DISCOURSE   NUMBER   I. 

EcctESlASTES,  1 :  4.    One  generation  passeth  away  and  anotlier  generation  cometh. 

There  are  certain  marked  periods  in  the  progress  of 
liuman  affairs,  wlien  it  specially  becomes  the  voyager 
to  consult  his  chart,  take  an  observation  and  consider 
whither  he  is  going,  and  how  far,  and  with  what  suc- 
cess, he  has  proceeded;  and  this  is  true  equally  of 
communities  as  of  individuals.  Such  a  period  may  the 
present  be  regarded  in  the  history  of  this  congrega- 
tion. 

Without  discussing  the  much  disputed  question, 
whether  in  numbering  the  years  of  a  century,  we 
count  one  when  the  first  year  Ijegins,  or  not  till  the 
clock  of  time  has  struck  one,  and  the  first  annual  pe- 
riod is  completed,  it  is  enough  for  our  purpose,  that 
the  beginning  of  the  present  year  comjiletes  half  a 
century,  since  the  history  of  this  Church  was  last 
traced,  in  a  century  discourse  by  the  venerable  Mac- 
wiiORTER,and  just  sixty  years  since  the  house  where  we 
are  now  assembled  was  first  opened  for  public  worship. 
Such  an  occasion  I  am  unwilling  to  let  slip,  without 
at  least  reminding  you  that  there  is  a  Past  to  be  re- 
viewed with  interest  and  gratitude,  though  on  many 


2  EELATIONS    OF    CHUECH   AND   TOWJv". 

points,  I  can  scarcely  do  more  tlian  refresli  tlie  memo, 
ries  of  tlie  old,  and  stimulate  tlie  inquiries  of  tlie  young 
respecting  matters  better  known  to  most  of  you  tlian 
they  are  or  can  be  to  me. 

The  fortunes  of  this  venerable  Church  were,  for 
many  years,  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  commu- 
nity in  the  midst  of  which  it  has  so  long  flourished. 
"Whoever  writes  the  history  of  the  city  of  Newark, 
must  begin,  if  he  will  do  any  justice  to  his  subject, 
with  tracing  the  early  history  of  this  congregation; 
and  in  undertaking  to  give  any  thing  like  a  correct 
view  of  the  latter,  it  will  be  necessary  to  detail  and 
explain  many  things,  which  may  seem  to  belong  more 
appropriately  to  the  former.  Indeed,  although,  theo- 
retically, there  was  a  distinction  made  from  the  begin- 
ning between  civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  yet  in  prac- 
tice, it  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  line,  between 
at  least  the  temporalities  of  the  Church,  and  the  ordi- 
nary business  of  the  body  politic.  During  the  first 
seventy  years,  the  town  transacted  all  the  business 
of  the  congregation ;  and  the  seventh  minister,  as 
were  all  his  predecessors,  was  called  to  the  office  and 
had  his  salary  fixed,  by  a  vote  of  the  town  in  town 
meeting.  This  Church  is  among  the  very  oldest  of  our 
local  institutions — perhaps  the  oldest  of  all.  It  was  to 
establish  it,  and  establish,  under  its  fostering  influence, 
a  system  of  social  order,  of  which  its  members  should 
have  the  sole  direction,  that  the  fathers  of  this  city 
came  and  planted  themselves  here  in  the  wilderness. 

The  original  settlement  of  Newark  was  made,  by  a 


POLICY   OF  NETV   HAPTEN   COLOITr.  3 

colony  from  Avliat  is  now  the  State  of  Connecticut,  then 
recently  erected  into  a  single  Province,  by  a  royal 
charter,  uniting  the  two  Colonies  of  Connecticut  and 
New  Haven. 

To  a  large  portion  of  the  people  of  New  Haven 
Colony,  this  union  was  exceedingly  offensive.  Besides 
being  brought  about  in  a  very  arbitrary  manner,  with- 
out due  consultation  with  them,  and,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, against  their  consent,  it  involved  the  abandon- 
ment of  some  of  their  favorite  principles.  They  had 
commenced  their  settlement  in  the  wilderness,  full  of 
the  spirit  of  that  animating  vision,  which  continually 
floated  before  the  mind  of  the  Puritan  emigrant,  to 
found  a  Church  uj)on  pure  principles,  and  a  State 
Avhich,  though  separate  in  its  jurisdiction,  should  act 
in  perfect  harmony  with  the  Church,  and  be  governed 
in  all  its  proceedure  by  the  rules  of  God's  Holy  Word. 
They  seem  to  have  supposed,  that  by  bringing  up  their 
children  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  excluding  from  the 
exercise  of  power  among  them  those  who  were  not 
governed  by  the  same  principles,  they  might  continue 
to  be  of  one  heart  from  generation  to  generation  ;  and 
"seeing  they  were  free  to  cast  themselves  into  that 
mould  and  form  of  commonwealth  which  appeared 
best  for  them,  in  reference  to  securing  the  peace  and 
peaceable  improvement  of  all  Christ's  ordinances  in 
the  Church,"*  it  is  scarcely  strange  that  they  adopted 
as  a  fundamental  rule,  after  long  deliberation,  with  not 
a  single  dissenting  and  only  one  questioning  voice 
among  them,  "  that  Church  members  only  shall  be  free 

*Trumbull,  vol.  J,  p.  m. 


4:  POLICY    OF   CO^^NECTICUT    COLONY. 

burgesses ;  and  that  tliey  only  sliall  choose  magistrates 
and  officers  among  themselves,  to  have  power  of  trans- 
acting all  public  and  civil  affairs  of  this  plantation.'*' 
For  the  government  of  a  great  State  or  nation,  em- 
bracing men  of  every  class  and  character,  and  offering 
to  all  the  best  pri\-ilege3  and  the  largest  liberty,  this 
exclusive  policy  would  be  doubtless  unwise ;  but  for 
an  infant  colony,  where  all  were  of  one  mind,  and 
which  might  afterwards  grow  into  a  State,  if  hostile 
influences  could  be  long  enough  averted,  for  the  body 
to  acquire  strength,  we  ought  to  think  long  before  we 
condemn  it.  Beyond  a  question,  it  was  the  only  means 
by  which  the  colonists  could  hope  to  realize  their  fa- 
vorite object ;  and  if  that  object  itself  must  now  be 
pronounced  chimerical,  all  good  men  must  agree,  that 
it  was  noble  in  purpose,  and  worthy  of  being  fairly 
tried,  by  those  who  had  confidence  in  it,  under  the 
only  circumstances  which  could  justify  the  experiment. 
The  people  of  Connecticut  Colony,  though  they  had 
not  abandoned  at  all  the  same  general  object,  had 
adopted,  in  their  Constitution,  a  more  liberal  policy. 
Had  they  gone  a  step  further,  and,  besides  allowing 
men  not  connected  with  the  Church  to  vote  in  ci\'il 
affaii'S,  prohibited  the  civil  authority  from  interfering 
in  any  manner  with  the  affairs  of  the  Church,  a  com- 
parison must  have  been  made  in  their  favor  under  the 
light  which  modern  experience  has  thrown  upon  mat- 
ters of  this  kind.  But  through  neglect  of  this  precau- 
tion, they  not  only  left  the  religious  character  of  the 
State  to  its  own  risks,  but  seriously  endangered  the 
Church's  purity :  a  hazard  which  theii'  more  cautious 


EFFECT   OF   UNITI^STG    THE   COLONIES.  5 

neighbors  of  New  Haven  miglit  well  appreciate,  when 
they  found  the  General  Court  of  that  Colony  both 
leading  the  way  for  the  convening  of  an  ecclesiastical 
Council,*  against  their  strenuous  remonstrances,  and 
combinino;  its   influence   with  that   of  other  secular 
bodies  to  procure  the  adoption  of  innovations  in  eccle- 
siastical order  and  discipline,  which,  as  time  has  since 
proved,  were  of  dangerous,  not  to  say  pernicious,  ten- 
dency.     The  accomplished  Winthrop  was  doubtless 
a  better  statesman,  in  the  ordinaiy  sense,  than  the  pa- 
triarchal Daveistpoet;  but  having  the  same  professed 
end  in  view — the  establishment  of  a  Christian  Com- 
monwealth— he    ought  to   have   perceived   that   the 
omission  of  the  restriction  in  question  would  require 
some   corresponding  measure   of  protection   for    the 
Church's  interests.      If  the  civil  authoiity  must  be  al- 
lowed to  interfere  in  matters  of  religion,  we  cannot 
wonder  that  the  fathers  of  the  Church  looked  with 
jealous  eye  on  the  admission  of  merely  worldly  men, 
and  perhaps  among  them  the  intolerant  advocates  of 
the  ecclesiastical  policy  from  whose  abuses  they  had 
fled  to  participate  in  such  authority.     Indeed,  if  this 
were  the  only  alternative  which  the  times  afforded,  we 
of  the  present  day  can  hardly  refrain  from  giving  our 
verdict  in  favor  of  these  same  stern  old  adherents  to 
the  ancient  way. 

It  was  manifest  that  the  union  of  the  two  Colonies, 
in  the  existing  circumstances,  must  have  the  effect  to 
compel  the  people  of  New  Haven  to  abandon  without 
further  trial  this  theii'  cherished  principle.     It  likewise 

*The  Council  convened  at  Boston  1G57.    TrumbuH's  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  1,  pp.  SCO,  303. 


6  STATE  INTEEFEEENCE   WITH  EELIGIOl^-. 

involved  a  virtual  assent  to  the  proceedings  of  the  re- 
cent Synod,*  called  by  the  authorities  of  a  neighboring 
Province,  but  highly  ai^proved  and  likely  to  be  recog- 
nised as  authority  by  the  Government  of  Connecticut, 
in  which,    among  other  innovations,   the   "half-way 
covenant,"  as  it  was  termed,  had  been  adopted— that 
is,  the  extension  of  a  part  of  the  privileges  of  church- 
membership  to  those  who  were  not,  and  by  their  want 
of  personal  piety,  could  not  become  members  in  full 
communion :  an  expedient  to  which  the  Churches  of 
New  Haven  Colony  were  from  the  beginning  stren- 
uously opposed.     Already  had  the  General  Court  of 
Connecticut  given  its  sanction  to  the  offensive  measure ; 
and  it  may  serve  to  illustrate  both  the  temper  of  the 
times  and  the  grounds  on  which  the  union  of  the  two 
Colonies  was  opposed  by  the  people  of  New  Haven, 
that  in  the  year  1664,  in  the  very  midst  of  the  dispute 
on  this  subject,  this  same  General  Const  "came  to  a 
resolve,  with  a  view  to  enforce  the  resolution  of  the 
Synod"  respecting  the  terms  of  church-membership,  in 
the   Churches    within   the    bounds   of  their  jurisdic- 
tion.f 

It  was  mainly  the  dissatisfaction  arising  out  of  this 
course  of  measures,  which  led  to  the  settlement  of  the 
town  of  Newark.  There  were,  among  the  emigrants, 
those  who  might  have  been  disposed  to  favor  the  union 
on  general  grounds.  Jasper  Crane,  one  of  the  fathers 
of  New  Haven  Colony,  who,  in  the  year  1639,  sub- 
scribed its   original   Constitution    in  Mr.   Newman's 

*  The  Synod  of  1662,  TrumbuU'a  Hist.        +  Trumbull,  vol.  1.  p.  311. 
Conn.,  vol.  1,  p.  310. 


DISCONTENT   IN   NEW    HAVEN   COLONY.  T 

bai-n,  and  liad  for  several  successive  years  served  as  one 
of  its  magistrates,  was,  in  tlie  year  1663,  cliosen  to  tlie 
same  office  in  botli  tlie  Colonies,  and,  when  the  union 
was  effected  in  the  year  1665,  received  the  same  token 
of  confidence  under  the  new  charter.     Matthew  Cam- 
field  and  Obadiah  Bruen  were  among  the  nineteen 
persons  named  in  the   charter  itself.      Eobert  Treat, 
the  pioneer  of  the  new  settlement,  refused  to  accept 
office    under    the    falling   government     of    his    own 
Colony  in  the  year   1664,  and,  in  tjie  following  year, 
acted    as    a   committee    to    consummate    the    union. 
Had  proper  regard  been  paid   in  the   beginning   to 
the  rights  of  the  smaller  Colony,  and  proper  time  been 
taken  for  the  adjustment  of  the  points  of  difference, 
there  is  little  doubt  that  the  union  might  have  been 
effected   amicably.       But   when,   against  the   remon- 
strances, and  in  violation  of  the  sacred  pledges  of  the 
iUustrious  Winthrop,  the  people  of  Connecticut   be- 
gan to  assume  a  tone  of  authority  toward  their  neigh- 
bors, insisted  upon  their  accession  to  the  union,  sent 
magistrates  to  obstruct  the  execution  of  the  laws,  and 
received  under  their  own  jurisdiction  such  of  the  in- 
habitants as  were  disposed   to  join  them— thus   dis- 
membering the  little  Colony  and  putting  power  into 
the  hands  of  its  internal  enemies,  "  as  if,"  say  the  ag- 
grieved, "  you  were  in  haste  to  make  us  miserable," 
bitter  resistance  was  the  inevitable  result.*  And  though 
most  of  them  yielded  to  what  had  now  become  a  plain 
matter  of  necessity,  and  for  the  general  good,  they 
yielded  as  men,  who  had  in  mind  a  better  and  more 

*  Trumbull,  vol.  1,  chap.  12 ;  see  Winthrop'a  Letter,  p.  520. 


8  IKVITING    ASPECT    OF    NEW    JERSEY. 

peaceful  way  to  rid  themselves  of  all  giievances,  and 
were  soon  found  making  their  plans  to  depart,  with  all 
their  families  and  goods,  out  of  the  jurisdiction. 

It  so  happened,  that  just  at  this  juncture,  the  Pro- 
vince of  New  Jersey  was  opening  an  in\iting  field,  and 
seeking  for  settlers  from  the  Colonies  of  New  Eng- 
land. The  Duke  of  Y  ork,  afterwards  James  II.  of  Eng- 
land, having  received  a  grant  from  his  royal  brother, 
Charles  II.,  of  all  the  land  comprehended  between 
the  rivers  Connecticut  and  Delaware,  claimed  by  him 
in  the  right  of  discovery,  but  most  of  which  was  then 
in  the  possession  of  the  Dutch,  had  dispatched  Col. 
Richard  Nichols,  whom  he  invested  with  the  powers 
of  government,  to  take  forcible  possession  of  it  in 
his  name ;  and  shortly  afterwards,  before  possession 
was  actually  acquired,  sold,  and  by  deed  conveyed  to 
John  Lord  Berkley  and  Sir  George  Carteret  all  his 
interest  in  that  part  of  his  royal  grant  comprehended 
within  the  present  limits  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
Immediately  the  new  Proprietors  took  measures  to  se- 
cure the  settlement  of  their  new  domains.  Proposals 
were  drawn  up  and  signed  by  them,  entitled  "The  Con- 
cession and  Agreement  of  the  Lords  Proprietors  of 
the  Province  of  New  C^sarea  or  New  Jersey,  to  and 
with  all  and  every  the  Adventurers,  and  all  such  as  shall 
settle  or  plant  there  ;"  and  Philip  Carteret,  a  brother 
of  Sir  George,  was  by  them  constituted  Governor  of 
the  Province,  and  sent  hither  with  instructions  to  carry 
into  effect  the  pro^dsions  of  the  Concessions.  Mean- 
while, however,  Col.  Richard  Nichols,  having  received 
a  surrender  from  the  Dutch,  had  granted  lands  to  a 


THE    CONCESSIONS.  9 

few  intended  settlers,  in  tlie  name  of  tlie  Buke  of 
York,  and  hence  a  conflict  of  titles  subsequently  arose, 
especially  in  Elizabethtown,  wliere  a  few  families,  at 
most  four  in  number,  had  actually  settled.  Philip 
Carteret,  accompanied  with  thirty  men,  gentlemen 
and  their  servants,  landed  at  Elizabethtown  in  the 
month  of  August,  1665  ;  and  having  made  such  agree- 
ments with  the  settlers  then  in  possession,  as  were  prob- 
ably satisfactory  to  all  parties,  and  supposed  to  be 
within  the  limits  of  his  authority,"  purchased  the  claim 
of  one  of  them,  and  became  himself  a  settler.  Soon 
after  this — it  does  not  appear  how  soon — the  Governor 
sent  messengers  to  New  England  to  publish  the  Con" 
cession  and  Agreement  of  the  Proprietors,  and  invite 
new  settlers  to  his  Province. 

The  Concessions,  w^hich  became  in  fact  the  funda- 
mental Constitution  of  the  Province,  contained  provis- 
ions highly  congenial  to  the  spirit  of  New  England 
men.  The  largest  liberty  of  conscience  was  guaran- 
teed, with  the  assurance  that  the  settlers  should  never 
be  disturbed  or  disquieted  for  any  difference  in  opinion 
or  practice  in  religious  concernments,  "  any  law,  usage 
or  custom  in  the  realm  of  England  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding."''^ A  General  Assembly  was  provided 
for,  one  branch  of  which  was  to  consist  of  representa- 
tives chosen  by  the  inhabitants  in  their  respective  i3ar- 
ishes  or  districts,  empowered  to  appoint  their  own 
time  of  meeting,  constitute  Courts,  levy  taxes,  build 
fortresses,  make  war,  oftensive  and  defensive,  natural- 
ize strangers,  allot  lands  to  settlers,  provide  for  the 

*  Grants,  Concessions,  Ac,  pp.  14-24. 


10  DETERMINATION    TO   EIHGEATE. 

support  of  tlie  Gfovernment,  and  ordain  all  laws  for  the 
good  of  the  Province,  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of 
England,  nor  against  the  Concessions  of  the  Proprie- 
tors and  their  interest.  Liberal  offers  were  also  made 
of  lands  for  settlement,  proportionate  to  the  numbers 
of  those  who  should  come  and  occupy  them,  with  only 
the  reserve  of  a  small  quit-rent  of  a  half-penny  per 
acre,  to  be  paid  annually  on  and  after  the  twenty-fifth 
day  of  March  in  the  year  1670.*  The  climate,  moreover, 
was  mild  in  comparison  with  their  own,  and  the  lauds 
were  represented  as  fertile. 

Hither,  therefore,  did  a  considerable  number  of  the 
disaffected  from  the  towns  of  Milford,  Branford,  Guil- 
ford and  New  Haven,  all  within  the  limits  of  the  for- 
mer Colony  of  New  Haven,  with  individuals  from  other 
towns,  determine  to  remove.  Accordingly,  very  early 
in  the  following  Spring,  or  perhaps  earlier,  a  commis- 
sion, of  whom  Kobert  Treat  was  one,f  came  and  made 
preparations  for  the  settlement  of  a  tract  of  land  on 
the  Passaic  River ;  and  before  the  end  of  May  in  that 
same  year,  a  company,  amounting,  it  is  said,  to  thirty 
families, J  "from  Milford  and  other  neighboring  plant- 
ations thereabouts,"§  were  already  on  the  ground,  and 
busily  engaged  in  laying  plans  for  their  future  perma- 
nent abode. 

Meanwhile,  however,  a  new  class  of  claimants  to  the 
lands  made  their  appearance.  Treat  had  su^iposed 
that,  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Pro- 
prietors, given  to  their  Governor  at  his  appointment, 

*  Grants,  Concessions,  &c.,  pp.  14-24.  t  Whitehead,  p.  45. 

t  Bill  in    Chancery,    p.  118.     Robert        §  Newark  Town  Records. 
Treat's  affidayit. 


PURCHASE  FEOM  THE   INDIANS.  11 

"  not  in  anywise  to  grieve  or  oppress  "  the  native  in- 
habitants, "but  treat  them  with  all  humanity  and 
kindness,"  measures  had  been  taken  already  to  satisfy  all 
their  demands,  and  give  to  him  and  his  associates  quiet 
possession.  But  this,  though  promised  as  he  alleges, 
was  not  done  ;  and  hence  no  sooner  had  the  company 
arrived  and  landed  some  of  their  goods,  than  a  party  of 
the  Hackinsack  Indians  warned  them  off  the  ground, 
saymg  the  land  was  theirs  and  it  was  unpurchased.* 
Determined  at  all  events  not  to  invade  any  of  the 
rights  of  their  savage  predecessors — a  rule  to  which 
their  mother  Colony  had  always  adhered  as  fundamen- 
tal— the  new  comers  put  their  goods  immediately  back 
into  the  vessel  which  brought  them,  and  were  on  the 
point  to  return ;  when,  being  dissuaded  by  the  Gover- 
nor, and  the  Indians  showing  a  disposition  to  sell  the 
lands,  they  concluded  they  would  make  a  fair  purchase 
of  the  Indian  title,  and  took  a  "  }Al\  of  sale"  under  the 
Governor's  advice  and  approbation.  The  amount  paid 
cannot  now  be  exactly  estimated,  but  it  was  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  be  distributed  to  each  settler  in 
exact  proportions  to  the  land  occupied,  and  to  be  men- 
tioned in  all  the  grants  and  conveyances  of  land  for 
several  years  afterwards.f 

*  See  Treat's  affidavit,  Bill  in  Chancery,  davits  of  Treat  and  Edsal,  Bill  in  Chan- 

p.  118.  eery,  pp.  117-18.)    The  bill  of  sale  bears 

+  The  purchase  was  made  in  the  first  date  July  11th,  1667,  and  is  signed  by 

instance  in  the  year  1G66,  by  Robert  Treat  Obadiah  Bruen,  Michael  Tompkins,  Sam- 

and  Samuel  Edsal,  as  agents  for  the  town,  uel    Kitchel,    John    Brown  and  Robert 

John  Capteen,  a  Dutchman,  acted  as  in-  Denison  on  the  part  of  the  town,  and  Wa- 

terpreter,    and  the   principal    Sagamore  pamuck,  Harish,Captamin,  Sessom,  Mam- 

•who  negotiated  the  bargain  was  Perro,  ustome,  Peter,  Wamesane.Wekaprokikan, 

who  acted  with  the  consent  and  approba-  Cacnackque  and  Perawae  on  the  part  of 

tion  of  an  aged  Sagamore  named  Oraton,  the  Indians.    The  witnesses  were  Samuel 

at  that  time  unable  to  travel.    (See  afli-  Edsal,  Edward  Burrowes,  Richard  Fletch- 


12  FIRST    TOWN    MEETING. 

The  preliminary  town  meeting,  the  first  of  which 
there  is  a  record,  was  held  on  the  21st  of  May,  1666, 
when   "friends    from   Milford    and   the   neighboring 
plantations  thereabout "  were  the  actual  inhabitants ; 
and   agents   sent   from   Guilford    and   Branford   met 
them  "to  ask,  on   behalf  of  their   undertakers    and 
selves,  with   reference   to   a   township"  to  be   occu- 
pied together  by  the  two  parties.     At  this  meet- 
ing the  grand  object  of  the  settlement  was  distinctly 
recognised.     "  It  was  agreed  upon  mutually,  that  the 
aforesaid  persons  from  Milford,  Guilford  and  Branford, 
together  with  their  associates  being  now  accepted  of, 
do  make  one  township ;  provided,  they  send  word  so  to 
be  any  time  between  this  and  the  last  of  October  next 
ensuing,    and   according    to    fundamentals    mutually 
agreed  upon,  do  desire  to  be  of  one  heart  and  consent, 
[that]  through  God's  blessing,  with  one  hand,  they  may 
endeavor  the  carrying  on  of  spiritual  concernments,  as 
also  of  civil  and  town  affairs,  accoeding  to  God  and  a 
Godly  Government  there  to  be  settled  by  them  and 
their  associates."*      Then  they  chose  a  committee  of 
eleven  men,  taken  from  both  companies,  viz :  Cai3tain 

er,  Classe  and  rierwim  the  Sachem  of  without  it.  However,  by  a  subsequent 
Pan.  This  purchase  extended  to  the  foot  deed,  dated  March  13,  1677-8,  the  limits 
of  the  mountain,  and  the  price  paid  for  it  were  extended  to  the  top  of  the  mouutaiu 
was  in  articles  as  follows  :  "  Fiftj'  double  for  "  two  guns,  three  coats,  and  thirteen 
hands  of  powder,  one  hundred  bars  of  cans  of  rum."  The  agents  chosen  by 
lead,  twenty  axes,  twenty  coats,  ten  guns,  the  town  to  make  this  purchase  were  Mr. 
twenty  pistols,  ten  kettles,  ten  swords,  Ward,  Mr.  Johnson,  Samuel  Harrison  and 
four  blankets,  four  barrels  of  beer,  ten  [Thomas]  Richards ;  and  John  Curtis  and 
pair  of  breeches,  fifty  knives,  twenty  hoes,  John  Treat  were  chosen  to  run  the  wes 
eight  hundred  and  fiTty  fathom  of  warn-  line  with  the  Indians  and  to  meet  with 
pum,  twenty  ankers  of  liquors  or  some-  Edward  Ball  and  Daniel  Dod,  who  were 
thing  equivalent,  and  three  troopers'  also  chosen  to  run  the  north  line  with  the 
coats."  It  seems  plain  from  the  words  Indians  and  meet  with  the  others  on  the 
•'something  equivalent"  that  the  pur-  mountain.  See  Whitehead,  p.  43.  E.  J.  Re- 
chasers  did  not  intend  to  pay  any  pan  in  cords.  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  66,  69. 
liquors  if  they  could  satisfy  the  Indians  *  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  1. 


BEANFOED   EMIGEANTS.  IS 

Robert  Treat,  Lieut.  Samuel  Swaiue,  Mr.  Samuel 
Kitchel,  Michael  Tompkins,  Mr.  [Thomas]  Morris,  Ser- 
geant Kicliard  Berkly,  Richard  Harrison,  Thomas 
Blatchley,Edward  Riggs,  Stephen  Freeman  and  Thomas 
Johnson,  "  for  the  speedier  and  l^etter  expedition  of 
things  there  emergent  to  be  done,"  of  whom  any  six 
or  more,  if  there  should  be  so  many  on  the  ground,  or 
at  the  least  not  less  than  five,  might  act  for  the  settle- 
ment of  the  place  until  another  like  committee  should 
be  chosen. 

The  agents  from  Guilford  and  Branford  having  re- 
turned and  made  a  report  of  their  commission,  a  large 
number  of  the  people  of  Branford  held  a  meeting  on 
the  30th  of  October,  1666,  "  touching  of  the  intended 
design."    These  men  had  been  among  the  most  deter- 
mined opposers  of  the  union  of  the  Colonies,  and  their 
hearts  were  still  set  upon  the  favorite  scheme  of  found, 
ing  a  pure  Church  and  a  Godly  Government  in  the  wilds 
of  America.     A  portion  of  them,  with  their  most  en , 
terprising  and  truly  apostolic  pastor  had  once  begun 
the  experiment  twenty  years  before,*  on  the  eastern 
shores   of   Long  Island,  where    after  a  few    years  of 
hopeful  effort,  they  had  left  their  homes  and  come  to 
Branford,  for  the  same  reasons  which  now  seemed  to 
call   for   a   new  removal ;    and  it  was  just  like  that 
sturdy  old  Puritan,  Abraham  Pierson,  not  to  abandon 
a  purpose  which  he  believed  wise  and  caj^able  of  good 
so  long  as  there  was  land  enough  unoccupied  in  all  the 
wilderness  on  which  to  complete  the  experiment.     xVc- 
cordingly,  at  this  meeting  two  articles  were  adopted, 

'Thompson's  Hist.  L.  I.,  vol.  1,  p.  S35    Trumbull's  UUt.  Coun.,  rol.  1,  pp.  US,  144. 


14  FU]ST)AJIE]S'TAL   AGEEE]MENT. 

and  received  the  signature  of  twenty-tliree  principal 
men  of  tlie  town,  as  "  the  fundamental  ageeement" 
on  wliich  tliey  wonld  engage  in  tlie  new  settlement — 
of  whicli  one  was  a  promise  "  to  provide  with  all  care 
and  diligence,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  purity  of 
religion,"  and  the  other  carefully  restricted  all  civil 
power  to  those  who  should  be  members  of  some  one 
or  other  of  the  Congregational  Churches,  When  the 
report  of  this  procedure  reached  the  new  settlement 
in  November  following,  it  was  unanimously  assented 
to  by  the  inhabitants ;  and  at  a  public  meeting,  held  on 
the  24th  of  June,  in  the  year  1667,  about  the  time,  prob- 
ably, of  the  arrival  of  the  Branford  company,  they  aU 
subscribed  their  names  to  the  agreement,  to  the  number 
of  forty,  making  in  the  whole,  with  those  who  had 
subscribed  before,  sixty-three.* 

*  This  Tcncrable  document  deserves  a  others  admitted  to  be  planters,  have  right 

permanent  memorial  in  connection  with  to  their  proper  inheritances,  and  do  and 

the  history  of  this  Church.     It  stands  as  shall  enjoy  all  other  civil   liberties  and 

follows,  with  the  signatures  attached,  on  privileges  according  to  all  laws,  orders, 

the  Rccoi'ds  of  the  Town  of  Newark.  grants  which  are,  or  shall  hereafter  be 

made  for  this  town. 

October  30,  1666.  2.  We  shall,  with  care  and  diligence. 

At  a  meeting  touching  the  intended  de-  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  the  purity 

sign  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bran-  of  religion  professed  in  the  Congregational 

ford,  the  following  was  subscribed  :  Churches. 

Deut.  i.  1." ;  Exod.  xviii.  21 ;  Deut.  xvii.  Whereunto  subscribed  the  inhabitants 

15  J  Jerem.  xxxvi.  21.  from  Branford — 

1.  That  none  shall  be  admitted  freemen  or  Jasper  Crane,   Abra.  Pierson,  Samuel 

free  Burgesses  within  our  town  upon  Pas-  Swaiue,  Laurence  Ward,  Thomas  Blatch- 

.saic  river,  in  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  ly,  Samuel  Plum,  Josiah  Ward,  Samuel 

but  such  planters  as  are  members  of  some  Rose,  Thomas  Pierson,  John  Ward,  John 

or  other  of  the  Congregational  Churches,  Catling,  Richard  Harrison,  EbenezerCan- 

nor  shall  any  but  such  be  chosen  to  mag-  field,  John  Ward,   Sen.,  Ed.  Ball,  Joha 

istracj-,  or  to  carry  on  any  part  of  civil  ju-  Harrison,  John  Crane,  Thomas  Hunting- 

dicature,  or  as  deputies  or  assistants  to  ton,   Delivered    Crane,   Aaron  Blatchly, 

liavc  power  to  vote  in  establishing  laws,  Richard  Laurence,  John  Johnson,  Thom- 

and  making  or  repealing  them,  or  to  any  as  Lyon,  [his  L.  mark.] 

chief  military  trust  or  office;   nor  shall  And  upon  the  reception  of  these  letters 

any  but  such  church  members  have  any  and  subscriptions,  the  present  inhabitants 

vote  in  any  such  elections ;  though  all  in  November  following,  declared   their 


PUEPOSE   OF   THE   SETTLERS. 


15 


The  settlement  of  Newark,  in  the  years  1666  and 
1667,  was  probably  the  last  attempt  to  realize  the 
noble  dream  of  the  old  Puritan  emigrants.*  The  re- 
strictions they  adopted,  with  all  their  measures  con- 
sequent thereon,  betray  no  particle  of  the  spirit  of 
bigotry  and  fanaticism.  They  were  measures,  not  of 
oppression,  but  of  simple  self-protection ;  and  as  we 
hear  of  no  dissentient  voices  in  the  whole  band,  it  may 
fairly  be  presumed  that  they  were  equally  in  accord- 
ance with  the  views  of  those  who  were  excluded  from 
the  power  of  government,  as  of  those  who  were  in- 
cluded. The  simple  design  of  their  authors,  was  ta 
prevent  an  enterprise  on  which  they  had  set  their 
hearts,  and  for  whose  success  they  were  willing  to 
make  large  sacrifices,  from  being  frustrated  in  the 
beginning,  by  passing  under  the  control  of  those  who 


consent  and  readiness  to  do  likewise,  and 
at  a  meeting,  the  24th  of  the  next  June 
following,  in  1667,  they  also  subscribed 
with  their  own  hands  unto  the  two  funda- 
mental agreements  expressed  on  the  other 
side  their  names,  as  follows : 

Robert  Treat,  Obadiah  Bruen,  Matthew 
Camfield,  Samuel  Kitchell,  Jeremiah  Peck, 
Michael  Tompkins,  Stephen  Freeman, 
Henry  Lyon,  John  Browne,  John  Rogers, 
Stephen  Davis,  Edward  Rigs,  Robert 
Kitchell,  John  Brooks,  [his  B  mark,] 
Robert  Lymens,  [his  V  mark,]  Francis 
Linle,  [his  F  mark,]  Daniel  Tichenor, 
John  Bauldwin,  Sen.,  John  Bauldwin,  Jr., 
Jona.  Tomkins,  George  Day,  Thomas 
Johnson,  John  Curtis,  Ephraim  Burwell, 
Robert  Denison,  [his  R  mark,]  Nathaniel 
Wheeler,  William  Camp,  Joseph  Wal- 
ters, Robert  Dalglesh,  Hans  Albers, 
Thom.  Morris,  Hugh  Roberts,  Ephraim 
Pennington,  Martin  Tichenor,  John 
Browne,  Jr.,  Jona.  Seargeant,  Azariah 
Crane,  Samuel  Lyon,  Joseph  Riggs,  Ste- 


phen Bond.    See  Newark  Town  Records, 
p.  2. 

*  What  Cotton  Mather  saj-s,  in  his 
quaint  way,  of  the  object  of  Pierson  and 
his  associates  in  their  first  enterprise  at 
Southampton,  may  serve  to  illustrate  the 
views  and  hopes  with  which  he  and  his 
church  came  to  Newark.  After  mention- 
ing that  they  formed  themselves  into  a 
body  politic,  before  they  left  Massachu- 
setts, "  for  the  maintaining  of  government 
among  themselves"  in  theirnew  home,  he 
adds,  "  thus  there  was  settled  a  church  at 
Southampton,  under  the  pastoral  charge 
of  this  worthy  man,  where  he  did,  with 
laudable  diligence,  undergo  two  of  the 
three  hard  labors,  I'iscentis  ct  Eegentis,  to 
make  it  become  what  Paradise  was  called, 
an  Island  of  the  Innocent!"  Without 
supposing  that  these  views  were  realized, 
either  there  or  here;  this  we  may  say, 
few  communities  have  approached  nearer 
to  the  mark,  than  did  the  town  of  Newark 
during  the  continuance  of  that  same  old 
Puritan  regime. 


16  PENALTEES    FOE   THE   EEFEACTOET. 

could  have  no  sympathy  with  its  aims.  Hence,  while 
they  confined  the  power  of  office,  and  even  the  elective 
franchise  to  church-members,  they  added  in  the  very 
same  instrument,  "though  all  others,  admitted  to  be 
planters,  have  right  to  their  proper  inheritances,  and 
do  and  shall  enjoy  all  other  civil  and  religious  privi- 
leges." 

As  to  any  who  might  be  refractory,  the  bill  of  pains 
and  penalties  in  force  among  them,  shall  be  allowed 
to  tell  its  own  story.  It  is  as  follows  : — "  It  is 
agreed  upon,  that  in  case  any  shall  come  in  to  us,  or 
arise  amongst  us,  that  shall  willingly  or  wilfully  dis- 
turb us  in  our  peace  and  settlements,  and  especially 
that  would  subvert  us  from  the  true  religion  and  wor- 
ship of  God,  and  cannot  or  will  not  keep  their  opinion 
to  themselves,  or  be  reclaimed  after  due  time  and 
means  of  conviction  and  reclaiming  hath  been  used ;  it 
is  unanimously  agreed  upon,  and  consented  unto,  as  a 
fundamental  Agreement  and  Order,  that  all  such  per- 
sons so  ill-disposed  and  affected,  shall" — O  what ! — 
some  direful  penalty  may  be  anticipated  ! — visions  of 
fines,  and  prisons,  and  stocks,  and  whipping-posts  rise 
before  us  !  but  let  us  hear — "  shall,  after  due  notice 
given  them  from  the  town,  quietly  depaet  the  place 
SEASONABLY,  the  towu  allowing  them  such  valuable 
considerations  for  their  lands  or  houses  as  indifferent 
men  shall  price  them,  or  else  leave  them  to  make  the 
best  of  them  to  any  man  the  town  shall  approve  of." 

The  fundamental  agreements,  in  both  articles,  every 
man  who  took  uj)  land  within  the  Newark  purchase, 
must  fii-st  subscribe,  with  this  additional  one,  equally 


LAW   AMOXG   THEMSELVES.  IT 

cliaracteristic  of  the  men  wlio  made  it,  "  as  tlieir  joiut 
covenant  one  witli  another,"  and  that  at  a  time  when 
there  had  been  no  legislative  assembly  convened,  and 
of  com'se  no  laws  "  settled  in  the  Province  ;"  that 
"  they  will  from  time  to  time  all  submit  one  to  another 
to  be  led,  ruled  and  governed  by  such  magistrates  and 
rulers  in  the  town,  as  shall  be  annually  chosen  by  the 
friends^  from  among  themselves  ;  with  such  orders  and 
laws  whilst  they  are  settled  here  by  themselves,  as 
they  had  in  the  place  whence  they  came  ;  under  such 
penalties  as  the  magistrate  upon  the  nature  of  the 
offence  shall  determine." 

It  may  be  asked  whether  the  settlers  had  the  au- 
thority to  establish  such  rules  in  regard  to  the  terms 
of  office  and  suffrage.  In  answer  to  this  question  it 
must  be  remembered,  that  they  had  purchased  their 
lands  at  a  fair  23rice  of  the  aboriginal  claimants,  and 
obtained  as  full  a  title  as  those  claimants  were  capable 
of  giving.  They  had  also  commenced  their  settlement 
with  the  approbation  of  the  Proprietors'  government, 
and  held  themselves  obligated  to  the  discharge  of  all 
their  legal  demands.  True  it  is  that  purchase  does 
not  give  the  right  of  government,  and  the  Concessions, 
whose  validity  as  law  they  did  not  disjDute,  make  no 
mention  of  such  authority.  But  neither  do  they  mention 
the  authority  to  establish  Town  Courts*  which  however 
the  inhabitants  erected,  nor  again  to  enact  laws  for  the 

*  Town  Meeting,  January  1,  1GG3-9 —  diet  of  a  jury  of  six  men  ;  and  one  of  thi» 

"  Item.    The  town  hath  agreed  that  there  times  is  to  be  the  last  fourth  day  of  the 

shall  be  two  Courts  in  our  town  yearly,  to  week,  commonly  called   Wednesday,  in 

hear  and  try  all  causes  and  actions  that  the  month  of  February;  and  the  other  is 

shall  be  necessary  and  desired  within  our  the  second  Wednesday  of  the  next  follow- 

compass,  and  accokdi.vg  to  our  akticles  ;  ing  month  of  September."   Newark  Tovni. 

aud  that  the  same  shall  pass  by  the  ver-  Records,  p.  11. 

Q 


18  THE   AETICLES. 

regulation  of  their  own  internal  affairs,  which  yet  they 
did  enact  constantly. 

The  truth  is,  that  besides  the  Concessions,  there 
were  in  the  beginning,  distinct  articles  of  agkee- 
MENT  between  the  government  and  the  settlers  in 
the  different  towns.*  Those  with  Woodbridge  and 
Piscataway  are  still  extant,  and  contain  several 
of  the  same  special  privileges  which  Newark  is 
known  to  have  exercised.  Those  with  Newark,  fifteen 
in  number,  have  long  since  been  lost,  but  there  is  evi- 
dence sufficient  that  they  once  existed,  and  were  en- 
tered into  by  the  parties  about  the  time  of  the  arrival 
of  the  first  company .f  These  articles  the  people  of 
Newark  constantly  referred  to  as  the  basis  of  their 
rights,  J  and,  from  the  history  of  their  formation,  only 
one  thing  appears  to  have  been  asked  by  the  settlers 
and  denied  by  the  Governor,  and  that  was  some  abate- 
ment in  the  required  quit-rents.  In  this,  he  said,  he 
was  not  authorized  to  vary  from  the  Concessions.  Ac- 
cordingly the  quit-rents  never  were  refused  by  New- 
ark ;  but  who  can  doubt  that,  while  they  yielded  this 
pecuniary  claim,  the  firm  and  honest  old  puritans  took 
care  to  insert  an  ai'ticle,  indulging  them  at  least,  in  the 

*  At  a  town  meeting  in  January,  1G69,  the  Concessions,  and  that  one  alteration 

'70,  these  articles  were  ordered  to  be  "  co-  proposed,  was  concerning  the  quit-rent  of 

pied  out  at  a  town  charge."    See  Newark  a  half-penny  sterling  per  acre,  to  which 

Town  Records,  p.  24.  Governor  Carteret  au-wercd,    '  I  cannot 

+  In  a  statement  of  the  Council  of  the  grant  any  exemption  from  the  payment 
Proprietors,  made  Sept.  14, 1747,  that  body  of  the  half-penny  per  acre,  it  being  all  the 
pledge  themselves  to  prove  the  existence  advantage  that  the  Lords  Proprietors  re- 
of  these  articles,  and  say  of  them,  that  serve  to  themselves,'  &c.  To  another  al- 
they  "  were  settled  with  long  thought  and  teration  he  said,  '  as  for  the  purchasers- 
deliberation,  and  corrections  and  altera-  being  out  of  purse,  I  cannot  help  them 
tions  mutually  made,  proposed  and  agreed  therein,'  "  &c.  (See  Appendix  to  Bill  iu 
to  in  them;  and  that  Captain  Treat  and  Mr.  Chancery,  p.  31.) 
Gregory,  their  agents  in  this  airair,did  read  I  Newark  Town  Records,  passim. 


DISTEIBUTION   OF   LAND.  19 

execution  of  tlieir  "  fundamental  agreement  ?"  How 
otherwise  sliall  we  account  for  the  fact,  that  they  still 
continued  to  practice  on  that  agreement  directly 
under  the  eye  of  the  Governor,  and  never  had  their 
authority  to  do  so  called  in  question  ?  The  truth  is 
that  in  the  religious  liberty  guaranteed  by  the  Con- 
cessions, "  avarice,"  as  it  has  been  justly  said,  "paid  its 
homage  to  freedom."*  But  then  the  avarice,  getting  its 
own  ends  fully  answered,  cared^  but  little  it  is  proba- 
ble beyond  that,  how  the  freedom  might  be  exercised. 

It  may  be  proper  however  to  add  here,  that  the 
restriction  referred  to  does  not  seem  to  have  been  kept 
in  force  much  beyond  the  life  of  the  oldest  men  then 
on  the  stage ;  nor  was  it  long  before  all  parties  seem 
to  have  been  convinced  that  such  a  restriction  could 
not  be  of  permanent  utility.f 

The  next  thing  to  be  agreed  upon  was  the  assign- 
ment to  the  several  settlers  of  their  respective  places  of 
residence,  for,  it  seems,  almost  all  affairs  were  con- 
ducted by  "  agreements"  among  this  rigid  and  exclusive 
band  of  Puritan  sectaries.  They  had  come  chiefly 
from  two  pairs  of  contiguous  towns,  lying  on  opposite 
Bides  of  a  small  bay  and  river,  and  their  exclusiveness 

*  Bancroft's  Hist.  U.  S.,  vol.  1,  p.  the  Clerk  is  to  set  their  names  in  a  list 

+  The  first   indication  of  a  departure  and  call  them  as  others  are  called."    Yet, 

from  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  record  of  a  after  this,  I  find  the  fundamental  agree- 

town  meeting  held  >Iarch  1,  1777-8,  a  few  mcnt  recognized  as  if   still  in  force,  or 

months    before  the   death   of   the   elder  not  formallv  abrogated ;  for  in  the  month 

Pierson,  which  is  as  follows :"  It  is  voted,  of   August,  1G85,    "William   Camp  and 

as  a  town  act,  that  all  and  every  man  that  John  Baldwin,  Jr  ,  are  chosen  to  go  from 

improves  lands  in  the  town  of   Newark  house  to  house  of  those  as  have  not  sub  • 

shall  make  their  appearance  at  town  meet-  scribed  to  our  fundamental  covenant,  and 

ings,  and  there  attend  to  any  business  that  return  their  answer  to  the  town."     (See 

shall  be  proposed,  as  any  of  the  planters  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  68, 105.)    This 

do,  and  be  liable  to  any  fine  as  others,  in  is   the   latest   recognition  of   it  which  I 

case  of  their  absence,  &c.,  and  also  that  have  been  able  to  discover. 


20  NEIGHBOELY   AFFECTIOK 

here  found  a  curious  manifestation  ;  for  having  tasted 
of  the  sweets  of  good  neighborhood  in  the  old  mother 
Colony,  they  were  not  ready  yet  to  forego  its  special 
privileges  in  their  new  wild  home.     So  it  stands  on 
record,  that  the  one  company  "  desired  liberty  to  take 
up  their  home  lots  and  quarters  in  a  quarter  together, 
for  their  better  security  and  neighborhood,"  "which 
motion  of  theirs"  the  other  company  immediately  "as- 
sented to."     Then  the  lines  having  been  drawn  for  the 
two  broad  streets,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles 
in  the  centre  of  the  town,  it  was  again  agreed  that 
each  party  of  "  neighbors"  should  take  up  their  liome 
lots  in  the  quarters  where,  as  chance  was,  they  had 
already  begun  to  occupy.     But  first  of  all,  in  testimony 
of  their  respect  and  gratitude  to  the  gallant  leader  of 
the  little  Colony,  "the  neighbors  of  Milford  and  New 
Haven,"  to  which  party  he  belonged,  "freely  gave  way 
that  Captain  Eobert  Treat  should  choose  his  lots"  be- 
fore the  rest  made  any  division.     This  done,  and  eight 
acres  being  assigned  to  him  as  his  home  lot,  whereas 
the  rest  had  six,  the  remainder  of  the  party  cast  lots 
for  their  several  portions,  "after  due  preparation  and 
solemnization,"  the  matter  having  been  first  "submitted 
to  the  Lord  for  His  guidance."* 

The  name  of  the  town  appears  to  have  been  at  first 
Milford,f  but  was  soon  changed  to  Newark,  in  honor, 

*  Newark  Town  Kccords,  pp.  3, 4.  Mr.  on  tbe  south,  was  that  of  the  elder  Pier- 
Treat's  home  lot  was  on  the  south-cast  son.  (See  Town  Book  of  Surveys.) 
corner  of  Broad  and  Market  streets;  op-  t  Scott's  "Model  of  the  Government," 
posite  him,  on  the  north-west  corner,  Whitehead,  p.  274.  In  Smith's  History  of 
was  Deacon  Ward's,  afterwards  pur-  New  Jersey,  Second  River  is  called  Mil- 
chased,  and  probably  occupied  by  Rev.  ford  or  ])!ewark  River,  p.  159. 
Abraham  Pierson,  Jr.,  and  adjoining  him, 


THE   NAJIE   NEWAEK:    FIRST   CHURCH.  21 

as  is  supposed,  of  its  first  minister,  wlio  i^reaclied  for  a 
time  in  Newark  in  England,  before  lie  came  to  this 
country.  Its  etymology  is  New- Work,  not  New- Ark, 
as  some  have  supposed  ;  the  former  being  a  simj)le  Eng- 
lish translation  of  the  Latin  words  Novum  o^nis^  by 
which  the  founder  of  Newark  Castle  chose  to  distin- 
guish his  then  new  enterprise.* 

The  First  Church  in  Newark  appears  to  be  the  old- 
est fully  organized  Church  of  Christ  of  any  denomina- 
tion within  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  There  were 
small  Swedish  Churches  on  the  banks  of  the  Dela- 
ware, but  these  were  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
within  the  boundaries  of  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania. 
A  few  Dutch  congregations  may  have  existed  tempo- 
rarily in  some  parts  of  the  State,  but  except  the  old 
First  Dutch  Church  in  Bergen,  I  cannot  learn  that 
any  remnants  of  them  now  survive  ;  and  that,  though 
justly  claiming  the  priority  by  a  few  years  over  all 
others,  in  the  occupancy  of  this  ground,  had  no  minis- 
ter, and  of  course  but  an  incomplete  organization  until 
after  the  lapse  of  several  generations.f     The  settle- 

*  See  MeCulloch's  Gazetteer  article,  nished  me  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Taj-lor, 
"  Newark."  It  may  be  observed,  in  con-  D.  D.,  its  present  pastor.  "  The  Reformed 
firmation  of  this  etymology,  that,  in  the  Dutch  Church  at  Bergen,  New  Jersey,  was 
old  manuscript  volume  called  "Town  constituted,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained 
Book,"  which  is  believed  to  be  an  original  about  the  year  A.  D.  1G63,  perhaps  a  little 
record  in  the  hand-writing  of  Robert  before  that  date.  The  writer  has  seen  a 
Treat  and  other  first  settlers,  the  last  syl-  certificate  (still  in  the  possession  of  a  de- 
lable  of  the  name  is  always  written  with  scendantof  thefaniih',)of  the  moral  andre- 
an  0,  Neworke  or  Nework.  New-Ark  and  ligious  character,  and  ecclesiastical  stand- 
No  va- Area  must  be  regarded  as  an  afl'ect-  ing  of  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town, 
ation  of  more  modern  times.  It  first  ap-  by  the  Burgomasters  of  the  city  of  Wagen- 
pears,  I  think,  about  the  time  of  Dr.  Mac-  ing,  in  Holland,  dated  November  27th, 
whorter.  IGtjO  ;  and  is  credibly  informed  that  a  re- 

■f  Of  this  first  Christian  light-bearer  on  cord  exists  in  the  Dutch  language,  in  the 

the  soil  of  New  Jersey,  I  extract  the  fol-  ofiiceof  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  State 

lowing  account  from  notices  kindly  fur-  of  New  York,  in  which  the  then  Governor 


22 


EAELT   CHUECHES. 


ments  of  Shrewsbury,  Midclletown  and  Piscataway, 
tliougli  nearly  contemporary  with  that  of  Newark,  had 
no  churches  till  a  much  later  period. 

The  only  organization  for  divine  worship  in  the 
English  language,  which  could  bear  a  comparison  with 
this  in  point  of  age,  is  the  venerable  sister  Church  of 
Elizabethtown.  But  this  can  furnish  no  historic  proofs 
of  its  existence  prior  to  the  year  1682,  when  the  Church 
in  Newark  had  erected  and  completed  its  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  been  in  full  operation  with  its  pastor  and 
other  officers — indeed  most  of  the  time  with  two  pas- 


of  the  Prorince,  reported  to  the  States- 
General  of  Holland,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Bergen,  in  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  had 
consented  to  be  taxed  for  the  building  of 
a  house  of  worship.  The  document  refer- 
red to  is  dated  A.  D.  1663.  In  1664,  the 
registers  now  in  possession  of  the  pastor 
commence.  At  that  date  there  were  nine 
male  and  eighteen  female  members  in  full 
communion,  whose  names  are  recorded. 
It  is  believed  to  be  almost  certain  that  this 
is  the  fifth  duly  organized  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  in  the  United  States,  and  the  first 
Christian  Church  in  the  present  State  of 
New  Jersey. 

"From  16G4  until  1680,  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God  was  conducted  in  a  log  edifice. 
During  the  period  of  sixteen  years,  the 
means  of  grace  seem  to  have  been  greatly 
blessed,  in  which  time  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  were  added  to  the  communion 
of  the  church.  In  KJSO  the  congregation 
erected  their  first  church  edifice,  and  the 
people  as  before  continued  to  have  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  administration 
of  the  ordinances,  principally  by  the  clergy 
of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  New 
York,  whose  names  are  recorded  as  present 
when  members  were  admitted  to  full  com- 
munion. And  I  have  seen  a  letter  dated  in 
1682,  from  one  of  the  early  pastors  of  the 
Church  in  New  York,  in  which  he  states 
the  administration  of  the  ordinance  of  the 
Supper  was  always  on,  Monday,  the  duties 


of  the  pastorate  in  the  city  not  admitting 
of  Sabbath  absences.  So  that  but  seldom 
on  the  Sabbath  could  the  Word  be  preach- 
ed to  them.  Nevertheless,  the  stated  Sab- 
bath services  were  maintained.  The  clerk 
of  the  Church,  as  he  was  called,  (or  the 
chorister,)  read  the  prayers  in  the  Liturgy 
of  the  Church,  and  some  appropriate  ser- 
mon selected  for  the  occasion— q/"  course 
all  in  the  Dutch  language.  This  system 
of  public  service  continued  for  at  least 
eighty-seven  years,  doubtless  because  of 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  pastor  who 
could  preach  in  the  Dutch  language,  the 
number  of  such  in  the  country  being  very 
small. 

"  In  1750,  a  call  was  presented  to  Mr 
William  Jackson,  then  prosecuting  pre 
liminary  studies  under  the  direction  of 
Rev.  John  Frelinghuysen,  of  Raritan,  (now 
Somervillc,)  and  he  was  sent  to  Holland  to 
complete  his  education,  and  receive  ordi- 
nation from  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam." 
T  hen  with  a  true  Dutch  quietude,  hardly 
surpassed  in  the  best  days  of  the  renowned 
Wouter  Van  Twiller,  did  this  worthy  peo- 
ple patientlj^  wait  four  years  and  three 
months  for  their  pastor  elect,  who  was 
greeted  by  them  on  his  return,  and  duly 
installed  in  Sept.  1757,  by  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  C\a.ss\s,  ninety-four  years 
after  their  organization  as  a  Christian 
Church. 


CHUECH    IN   ELIZABETHTOWN.  2S 

tors,  a  senior  and  a  junior — during  a  period  of  fifteen 
years."'^ 

It  is  true  the  settlement  of  Elizabethtown  was  com- 
menced somewhat  earlier  than  that  of  Newark,  but  it 
was  commenced  and  carried  on  in  circumstances  much, 
less  advantageous  for  the  speedy  establishment  of 
religious  institutions.  It  must  be  remembered,  that 
np  to  the  mouth  of  August,  1665,  only  four  families,  if 
so  many,  some  say  only  two,f  had  found  a  residence 
there,  and  the  next  accession  to  their  numbers  was 
that  of  Governor  Philip  Carteret,  and  his  thirty  Eng- 
lish gentlemen  and  servants — a  company  not  likely  to 
coalesce  readily  with  the  first  four  in  the  establishment 
of  Puritan  worship  and  ordinances.  It  is  only  nine 
months  after  this  arrival  that  we  find  thirty  families, 
all  New  Eu2:land  Church-members  from  the  same 
neighborhood,  already  settled,  and  met  to  devise  plans 
for  the  carrying  on  both  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  af- 
fairs, in  common  with  another  party  of  the  same  char- 
acter, who  were  ready  to  come  and  join  them  for  the 

*  The  earliest  notice  of  ecclesiastical  expressly  charge,  that  no  other  Christian 
affairsinElizabethtowu,  yet  discovered,  is  person  whatsoever  was 'settled  on  any 
to  be  found  in  the  East  Jersey  Proprietary  part  of  the  lands  in  question,  than  John 
Kecords,  viz:  that  "Rev.  Seth  Fletcher,  Ogden  and  Luke  Watson, before  Governor 
minister  of  the  gospel  at  Elizabethtown,"  Carteret's  arrival."  (p.  6G.)  This  may  be 
died  in  the  month  of  August,  1682.  His  regarded  as  a  partizan  statement ;  but  the 
marriage  contract  with  Mrs.  Mary  Pier-  defendants  in  their  reply,  without  contra- 
son,  of  South  Hampton,  in  the  East  Riding  dieting  it,  content  themselves  with  stating 
of  Yorkshire,  Long  Island,  is  dated  May  what  they  have  heard  and  believe  took 
80,  168L  (Mr.  Whitehead.)  The  next  place  "a<  o?"  soon,  a/ie^  the  arrival  of  Gov- 
minister,  Rev.  John  Harriman,  could  not  ernor  Carteret."  It  seems  probable,  there- 
have  been  settled  earlier  than  1684.  fore,  that  they  could  point  to  no  meDwrials 

+  "  Four  families,  n  so  many,"   is  the  proving  a  more  extensive  settlement  prior 

expression  used  in  the  Bill  in  Chancery,  to  that  period.     Dr.  Murray,  in  his  Notes 

and  the  complainants  in  that  bill  add,  that  on  Elizabethtown,  p.  22,  says,  "  there  were 

from  "  memorials"   then  recently  discov-  here  but  four  houses,  and  those  but  log 

ered,  "  they  have  reason  to  believe,  and  do  huts." 


24  CHUECH   IN   NEWAEK. 

same  purposes,  on  the  banks  of  tlie  Passaic.  Mean- 
while, however,  and  probably  abont  the  same  period 
with  the  emigration  to  Newark,  came  other  companies 
and  individuals  in  considerable  numbers,  from  the 
same  region,  and  took  up  their  abode  at  Elizabeth- 
town.  But  these  emigrants  found  the  ground  there 
pre-occupied ;  and  other  influences  than  theirs  having 
already  acquired  prevalence — influences  with  which 
they  found  themselves  in  conflict  for  many  years  after- 
wards— they  must  have  been  subject  to  serious  embar- 
rassment in  attempting  to  realize  their  best  religious 
purposes.  The  probability  that  a  regularly  organized 
Church  could  have  existed  there  as  soon  as  in  Newark 
is,  therefore,  exceedingly  small. 

It  was  the  good  fortune  of  this  community,  to  have 
become  a  Church  almost  as  soon  as  it  became  a  settle- 
ment. The  settlers  were  perfectly  homogeneous,* 
both  in  the  beginning  and  for  many  years  afterwards, 
and  were  banded  together  before  they  came,  for  the 
support  of  religious  institutions.  Indeed,  the  old 
Church  in  Branford,  organized  there  twenty  years  ear- 
lier, was  probably  transported  bodily,  with  all  its  cor- 
porate privileges  and  authorities.  Its  old  pastor  was 
conveyed  hither  at  the  expense  of  the  town ;  its  dea' 
con  continued  his  functions  without  any  signs  of  re-ap" 
pointment;f  its  records  were  transferred,  and  it  im- 

*  I  find  but  two  names  among  the  first  early  as  1G45.  (S^  list  published  by  Lam" 

company  M'hich  indicate  a  different  origin  bert,  p.  90.) 

from  the  rest.     Robert  Dalglesh,  or  Dou-         t  I  have  no  positive   proof  that  Dea- 

glass,  according  to  Dr.  Macwhorter  was  a  con  Ward  was  a  deacon  before  he  came 

Scotchman,  and  Hans,  Hants,  or  Hauns  hither,  but  infer  it  from  th<;  fact  that  he  is 

Albers,  though  probably  of  Dutch  extrac-  so  denominated  immediately  after. 
tioD,  was  a  settler  in  Milford,  Conn.,  aa 


OEIGIN   OF   THE   CHURCH.  25 

mediately  commenced  "  Clim-cli  work,"  and  its  pastor 
was  invested  witli  his  office  and  salary  on  the  new 
spot,  without  any  ceremony  of  organization  or  installa" 
tion.  It  is  true  that  several  of  its  members  were  left 
behind,  but  they  no  longer  claimed  to  be  a  Church  > 
and  hence  there  was  no  Church  in  Branford  after  the 
removal,  till  a  new  one  was  organized  there  several 
years  subsequent.*  The  settlers  who  came  hither  from 
other  towns,  probably  transferred  their  ecclesiastical 
relations  to  this  pre-existing  organization,  and  the 
Chm'ch  of  Branford  being  thus  transplanted  to  a  new 
locality,  and  having  received  an  accession  of  new  con- 
stituent elements,  became,  after  the  example  of  the 
Church  in  Hartford  and  several  others  in  New  England 
the  First  Church  of  Newark,  and  thereupon  started 
forth  upon  a  new,  and  as  it  since  has  proved  by  far  the 
largest  portion  of  its  career.  This  Church  may  there- 
fore be  regarded  as  having  had  two  beginnings,  the 
first  in  Branford,  in  the  year  1644,  which  is  its  proper 
organic  origin ;  and  the  second,  when  it  became  fairly 
removed  to  Newark,  and  its  pastor  resumed  his  func" 
tions  here  in  the  beginning  of  October,  IGGT.f 

*  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.1,  p.  277.  debating  to  get  wisdom"  for  their  intended 

t  It  is  scarcely  to  be  doubted  that  reli-  work.     Meanwhile,    "  the  town  was  cast 

gious  worship  was  statedly  maintained  in  into   several    private    meetings,  wherein 

Newark  from  the  beginning  of  the  settle-  they  that  dwelt  most  together,  gave  their 

ment.    The  number  and  character  of  the  accounts  one  to  another  of  God's  gracious 

settlers  sufficiently  indicate  this.    But  the  work  upon  them,  and  prayed  together,  and 

disposition  of  the  early  Puritans  to  carry  conferred  to  mutual  edification."    See  Ba- 

with   them  wherever  they  came,    "the  con's  Hist.  Disc,  p.  IS*.     That  the  Church 

Church  and  the  godly  minister,"    gives  in  Newark  was  able  to  complete  its  organ- 

us  no  sure  evidence  of  the  precise  date  of  ization  so  soon  after  the  commencement  of 

the  organization  of  their  permanent  con-  the  settlement,  and  so  much  earlier  than 

gregations.     In  the  old  mother  Colony  of  its  sister  Churches  in  this  Province,  must 

New  Haven,  the  people  waited  fourteen  doubtless  be  attributed  to  the  peculiarly 

months,  "praying,  fasting,  inquiring  and  favoring  circumstances  above  detailed. 


26  ABRAHAM   PIEESON",'   SENIOR. 

TJie  first  pastor  of  this  Cliurcli,  as  we  have  already 
intimated,  was  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson.  He  was 
born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  graduated  at  the  Univer- 
sity, of  Cambridge,  in  the  year  1632,  and  having  been 
ordained,  as  is  supposed  episcopally,*  and  preached  for 
some  years  in  his  native  country,  came  to  Boston 
in  the  year  1639,  and  joined  the  Church  there.  In 
the  year  1640,  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn, 
near  Boston,  where  he  seems  for  a  short  time  to  have 
resided,  "  finding  themselves  straitened,"  as  Governor 
Winthrop  represents  the  case,  determined  to  remove 
to  Long  Island,  and  calling  Mr.  Pierson  to  become 
their  minister,  they  were  organized  into  a  Church  state 
before  they  left  Lynn,  and  after  an  ineffectual  attempt 
to  settle  on  the  west  end  of  the  island,  removed  to  the 
east  end,  and  became  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of 
Southampton.  In  the  year  1644,  being  dissatisfied 
with  the  annexation  of  his  little  Colony  to  the  juris- 
diction of  Connecticut,!  he  removed,  as  I  have  already 
said,  after  a  ministry  of  about  four  years,  with  a  por- 
tion of  his  Church  to  the  town  of  Branford,J  and  there 

*  See  Dr.  Macwhorter's  Ceutiiry  Ser-  who  had  been  ordained  by  bishops  before 
men,  p.  8,  TrumbuH's  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  1,  coming  to  New  England,  thongh  the  va- 
p.  280.  The  following  notice  of  Mr.  Pier-  lidity  of  their  episcopal  ordination  was  not 
son,  is  taken  from  a  memoir  of  Hugh  Pe-  called  in  question,  were  subjected  to  an 
ters,  by  Joseph  B.  Felt,  published  in  the  additional  form  of  setting  apart  usually 
New  England  Hist,  and  Geneal.  Register,  denominated  ordination,  on  their  taking- 
April,  1851,  p.  233.  "  November,  1640,  he  charge  of  a  Congregational  Church.  (See 
(Peters)  attends  the  formation  of  a  Church  Felt's  Annals  of  Salem,  p.  574  ) 
at  Lynn,  composed  of  individuals  who  had  t  Cotton  Mather  says,  "  It  was  after- 
emigrated  thence  and  settled  on  Long  Is-  wards  found  necessary  for  this  Church  to 
land.  On  the  same  occasion  he  takes  part  be  divided.  Upon  which  occasion  Mr. 
in  the  ordination  of  Abraham  Pierson,  as  Pierson  refer/ing  his  case  to  Council,  his 
their  guide  in  the  spread  of  Gospel  knowl-  removal  was  directed  into  Branford  over 
edge  and  influence."  N.  B.  There  is  no  the  main."  (Magnalia  Book  iii,  ch.  8.) 
contradiction  between  this  statement  and  X  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  1,  p. 
that  given  above,  since  those  ministers  148. 


PIERSONAS   MISSIONARY.  27 

nniting  witli  others  from  the  town  of  Weathersfield, 
organized  a  new  Church,  of  which  he  was  the  pastor 
in  that  j^Lace  about  twenty-three  years. 

During  his  residence  in  Branford,  he  was  distin- 
guished by  his  great  zeal  and  success  in  the  instruction 
and  conversion  of  the  native  Indians.  The  Commis- 
sioners for  the  United  Colonies  of  New  England,  a  con- 
federation formed  at  New  Haven  in  1643,  in  co-opera- 
tion with  a  society  in  England  incorporated  by  act  of 
Parliament  six  years  later  "  for  carrying  on  and  promot- 
ing the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  New  England  "  were  in  pur- 
suit  of  vigorous  measures  for  this  object.  Among  the 
missionaries  whom  they  employed,  the  names  of  the 
gentle  Mayhew  and  the  apostolic  Eliot  have  acquired  an 
almost  world-wide  renown.  To  these,  that  of  Abraham 
Pierson  eminently  deserves  to  stand  next.  What  they 
were  in  Massachusetts,  such  was  he  in  the  regions  of 
Connecticut.  As  early  as  the  year  1651,  we  find  him 
spoken  of  as  studying  the  language  and  "continuing 
with  much  seriousness  therein,"  that  he  may  the  better 
be  able  to  treat  with  the  ignorant  children  of  the 
forest  "  concerning  the  things  of  their  peace."  Shortly 
after,  we  hear  of  him,  not  only  as  preaching  to  the 
Indians,  but  preparing  a  catechism  for  them  in  their 
native  language.  It  was  first  written  in  English  ;  and 
under  date  of  September  17,  1656,  we  find  the  follow- 
ing notice  of  it  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Commission- 
ers for  the  Colonies:  "A  letter  from  Mr.  Pierson  of 
Branford,  dated  the  25th  of  August,  was  read ;  and 
some  part  of  a  catechism  by  him  framed  and  pro- 
pounded to  convince  the  Indians  by  the  light  of  na- 


28  INDIAN   CATECHISM. 

ture  and  reason  that  there  is  only  one  God  who  hath 
made  and  governed  all  things,  was  considered.  And 
the  Commissioners  ad\^sed  that  it  be  perfected  and 
turned  into  the  Narragansett  or  Pequot  language,  that 
it  may  be  the  better  understood  by  the  Indians  in  all 
parts  of  the  country  ;  and  for  that  purpose  they  spoke 
with  and  desired  Thomas  Stanton" — a  young  man 
whom  they  had  trained  at  Cambridge  to  fit  him  for  an 
interpreter  in  the  Indian  service — "  to  advise  with  Mr. 
Pierson  about  a  fit  season  to  meet  and  translate  the 
same."  This  catechism  was  designed  for  the  special 
benefit  of  the  natives  of  the  south-west  portions  of 
New  England ;  Mr.  Eliot's,  which  was  prepared  a 
short  time  earlier,  having  been  intended  for  those  of 
Massachusetts,  whose  dialect  was  somewhat  different. 
It  was  intended  at  first  to  send  the  manuscript  to  Eng- 
land for  publication,  but  on  conference  with  the  society 
there,  it  was  thought  best  that  the  work  should  be 
done  in  America.  It  was  printed  in  the  year  1660,  by 
Mr.  Green,  to  whom  the  Commissioners  paid  forty 
pounds  for  that  service.  Mr.  Pierson  had  a  regular 
salary  for  his  labors  in  the  Indian  department  from 
the  Commissioners,  in  the  same  manner  as  Eliot  and 
Mayhew  and  some  others.  At  first  it  was  J6l5,  then 
£'20,  afterwards  £30  ;  and  it  was  not  till  the  year  but 
one  before  he  left  Branford  that  we  find  it  "  abated,"  for 
some  cause  not  given,  to  £15.  The  proceedings  and 
correspondence  of  the  Commissioners  contain  abund- 
ant evidence  of  the  high  estimation  which  both  they 
and  the  Society  in  England  entertained  of  his  labors. 
Twice,  in  the  early  part  of  his  course,  they  made  ap- 


PIERSON  S    CHARACTER. 


29 


propriations  of  money  to  aid  liim  iu  liis  preparations 
for  the  work  ;  and  more  ttan  once  we  find  special  ap- 
propriations awarded  to  liim  for  liis  extraordinary- 
pains."^ 

Mr.  Pierson's  character,  both  personal  and  ministe- 
rial, appears   to    have   been    of   a   high   order.      He 
exerted  no  small  influence,  not  only  over  his  own  flock, 
but  among  the  people  generally  in  the  Colony  of  New 
Haven.     The-  elder  Winthrop,  a  personal  acquaintance, 
and  the  best  of  authorities  on  such  a  point,  pronounces 
him  a  *'  godly  learned  man."     Cotton  Mather  says  of 
him,  "  Wherever  he  came  he  shone."t  We  may  perhaps 
form  some  notion  of  his  halits  of  study  from  the  ex- 
tent of  his  library,  which  appears,  from  the  inventory 
of  his  estate  still  in  existence,  to  have  contained  four 
hundred  and  forty  volumes,  valued  at  one  hundred 
pounds,  or  about  one-eighth  of  his  entire  estate.J 

The  salary  assigned  to  this  good  old  man,  on  his 
coming  to  Newark,  was  ample  for  the  times,  and  marks 


*  Hazard's  State  Papers,  vol.  ii,  pp.  178, 
186,  303,  313,  321,  326,  366,  378,  Syi,  3'.'2, 
403, 404, 414, 431, 442,  443, 458.  Trumbull 
says,  (Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  1,  p.  464,)  "  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Pierson,  it  seems,  learned  the 
Indian  language,  and  preached  to  the 
Connecticut  Indians.  A  considerable  sum 
■was  allowed  him  by  the  Commissioners  of 
the  United  Colonies,"  &c.  In  the  year 
16.53,  when  an  agreement  was  to  be  made 
■with  the  aboriginal  inhabitants,  "Mr. 
Pierson  and  his  Indians  were  emjiloyed  as 
interpreters,  and  Mr.  Pierson  and  John 
Brocket  witnesses  to  the  mutual  covenant. 
(See  Bacon's  Hist.  Dise.  p.  347.) 

+  Mather's  account  of  him  commences 
thus :  "  'Tis  reported  by  Pliny,  bnt  per- 
haps 'tis  but  a  Plinyism,  that  there  is  a 
fish  called  Lucerna,  whose  tongue  doth 


shine  like  a  torch.  If  it  be  a  fable,  yet  let 
the  tongue  of  a  minister  be  the  moral  of 
that  fable.  Now  such  an  illuminating 
tongue  was  that  of  our  Pierson."  (Mag- 
nalia,  B.  iii,  ch.  8.) 

X  The  uett  value  of  his  estate,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  inventory  at  his  decease, 
was  £822.  When  he  came  to  Newark  it 
was  estimated  at  £i;44,  the  largest  iu  the 
company  except  Robert  Treat's,  which  was 
£660.  The  library,  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  volumes,  given  as  tokens  of  love  to 
his  other  sons,  was  bequeathed  at  Mr.  Pier. 
son's  death  to  his  eldest  son,  Abraham 
Pierson,  Jr.,  and  may  have  contained  a 
portion  at  least  of  the  volumes  afterwards 
contributed  by  the  latter  to  found  the  col- 
lege at  N'ew  liaveu.  (See  Trumbull,  vol. 
1,  p.  473.) 


30 


MINISTER  S   SALARY. 


the  pious  faithfulness  and  liberal  spirit  of  the  men  who 
Ibrouofht  him  here,  and  still  adhered  to  him  to  the  end 
of  his  life.  Besides  receiving  his  proportion  of  the  lands 
as  other  planters,  the  sum  of  eighty  pounds  was  given 
him  the  first  year  for  the  erection  of  his  house,*  together 
with  the  expenses  of  his  transportation,  and  "  the  dig- 
ging and  finishing  of  his  well ;"  and  thenceforth  he 
was  to  receive  eighty  pounds  annually,  in  two  semi- 
annual instalmentSjf  and  to  be  free  from  all  ordinary 
taxes  during  life,  except  the  proportion  charged  on  his 
estate  "  for  ways  and  drainings  in  the  meadows,"  and 
the  never-to-be-forgotten  Lord's  half-penny.  J 

It  would  be  pleasant,  could  we  summon  to  our  view 
the  persons  and  characters  of  the  active  men  who  then 
stood  round  their  aged  pastor,  and  sustained  him  with 
their  prayers  and  sympathies,  and  received  the  bread 
of  life  here  at  his  hands — the  men  who  laid  out  these 


*  A  house  which  cost  £80,  must  have 
heen  one  of  superior  elegance  as  the  times 
were.  Samuel  Groome,  writing  from  Eliz- 
abethtown  in  1GS3,  says,  "  The  houses  at 
Amboy,"  viz.  three  which  he  had  recently 
built  to  begin  a  great  city,  which  was  then 
to  be  built  there,  "  are  thirty  feet  long  and 
sixteen  feet  wide ;  ten  feet  between  joint 
and  joint  :  a  double  chimney  made  with 
timber  and  clay,  as  the  manner  of  the 
country  is  to  build :  will  stand  in  about 
£50  a  house."  (Smith's  N.  J.,  p.  175.) 
Gawen  Lawrie,  writing  to  a  friend  in  Lon- 
don, says,  "A carpenter  with  a  man's  oMn 
servants,  builds  a  house.  They  have  all 
materials  for  nothing  except  nails.  The 
poorer  sort  set  up  a  house  of  two  or  three 
rooms  after  this  manner.  The  walls  are 
of  cloven  timber,  about  eight  or  ten  inches 
broad,  like  planks,  set  one  end  to  the 
ground  and  the  other  nailed  to  the  rais- 
ing, which  they  plaster  within."  This, 
we  are  told  by  another  writer  of  the  same 
period,  was  th«  style  of  most  of  the  coun- 


try houses,  though  there  were  a  few  built 
of  brick  or  stone.  But  such  houses  could 
not  have  cost  £80.  Governor  Winthrop's 
house  in  New  Haven,  in  1657,  was  sold  for 
£100,  and  "it  was  one  of  the  best  in  the 
town,"  sa3's  Dr.  Bacon,  "  distinguished  as 
it  was  for  'fair  and  stately  houses.'  " 

+  Dr.  Macwhortcr  says  in  his  Century 
Sermon,  "  The  common  salary  which  they 
allowed  their  minister  was  about  £30  a 
year,  and  this  was  frequently  raised  with 
great  difficulty,  and  ill  paid."  This  is 
certainly  a  mistake,  either  of  the  writer 
or  the  printer.  The  smallest  salary  ever 
given  to  a  settled  pastor,  was  Mr.  Prud- 
den's,  of  £50.  None  of  the  rest  fell  short 
of  the  sum  above  named. 

X  It  is  added  in  the  agreement,  that  he  is 
to  have  "a  pound  of  butter  for  every  milch 
cow  in  the  town."  This  has  been  stated 
by  some  as  an  additional  perquisite.  But 
it  seems  to  have  been  only  one  of  the 
"  species"  in  which  the  sum  of  £80  was  to 
be  paid     (Newark  Town  Records,  p.  8.) 


DEACON   WAED JASPER    CRANE.  31 

broad  streets*  and  gave  us  tliese  beautiful  parks, f  and 
whose  spirit  still  lives  in  institutions  to  whicli  they 
gave  the  first  impulse.  But  of  most  of  them,  their 
names  and  the  general  spirit  of  their  corporate  acts  is 
nearly  all  that  we  can  rescue  from  oblivion. 

There  was  Lawrence  "Ward,  the  first  deacon  of  the 
Church — an  old  man,  probably — whose  name  appears 
among  the  original  settlers  of  the  town  of  New  Haven, 
and  who  came  to  Newark  from  Branford  with  the 
Church  of  which  he  was  an  ofi&cer  ;'■  a  plain,  unpretend- 
ing man,  as  I  imagine,  possessing  a  moderate  estate,  and 
useful  to  the  new  Colony  in  various  services  requiring 
trust-worthiness  and  discretion.  He  died  sometime  in 
the  year  1669. 

There  was  Jasper  Crane- — also  an  original  settler  of 
New  Haven,  and  a  member  of  the  Church  in  Branford 
— whose  name  heads  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the 
Fundamental  Agreement,  and  who  figures  largely  in 

*  John  Barclay  and  others,  (see  Smith's  that  in  the  rear  of  them ;   together  with 

New  Jersey,  p.  187,)  writing  to  the  Pro-  that  which  lyeth   in   the   middle   street, 

prietors  in  Scotland,  in  1684,  says  of  the  towards  the  landing  place,  and  that  which 

towns  in  this  region,  "  Their  streets  are  lies  against  Aaron  Blatchley's,  and  John 

laid  out  too  large,  and  the  sheep  in  the  Ward's,  and  Robert  Dalglesh's ;  which  is 

towns  are  mostly   maintained  in  them  ;  to  be  and  remain   as  Town  Commons." 

they  are  so  large  that  they  need  no  trouble  (Newark  Town  Records,  p.  24.) 

to  pave  them."    There  may  have  been  no  N.  B.  The  land  before  William  Camp's 

need  once,  but  times  change.  is  now  a  part  of  the  South  Park  ) 

+  At  a  general  town  meeting,  25th  and  That  towards  the  landing  place  in  the 

2Cth  Jan.,  1669-70.     "Item.     It  is  by  a  middle   street,   is   the  Park   or   ililitary 

full  consent  of  all  agreed  upon,  that  none  Common. 

of  the  common   lands   lying  within  our  Tliatagainst  Aaron  Blatchley's  and  John 

town  or  highways,  so  far  as  our  articles  Ward's,  is  Washington    Park,   formerly 

will  allow  of,   shall  at  any  time  be  given  Market  Place. 

or  disposed  of  to  any   man's  propriety.  That  against  Robert  Dalglesh's,  is  the 

without  the  consent  of  every  freeholder  old  "  watering  place"  on  the  south  side  of 

or  received  inhabitant  of  the  town;  as  the  Market  street,  near  the  Court  House, 

land  about  the  frog  pond  or  training  place  ;  The  old  or  first  training  place  was  the 

the  land  before  William  Camp's  towards  spot  on    which    the  first   meeting-house 

the  end  in  the  front  of  those  lots,  as  also  stood,  near  the  frog  pond. 


32  EOBEET   TREAT. 

all  the  transactions  of  tlie  town  of  Newark  durins;  the 
first  fourteen  years ;  its  magistrate,  the  president  of  its 
town  court,  and  chosen  regularly  every  year  for  the 
first  five  or  six  years,  as  first  on  its  list  of  deputies  to 
the  General  Assembly.  He  was  an  active,  energetic 
and  perhaps  restless  man,  who  had  aided  already  in 
the  commencement  of  two  or  three  new  settlements, 
and,  as  early  as  the  year  1651,  had  been  only  prevent- 
ed by  the  "injustice  and  violence  of  the  Dutch"  (so  he 
thought  it)  from  establishing  yet  another  on  the  banks 
of  the  Delaware,  whereby  "  the  gospel,"  he  said, 
"  might  have  been  published  to  the  natives,  and  much 
good  done,  not  only  to  the  Colonies  at  present,  but  to 
posterity."* 

Next  comes  Robert  Treat — the  flower  and  pride  of 
the  whole  company — who  came  to  the  Colony  of  New 
Haven  when  a  young  man,  and  was  early  advanced  to 
posts  of  influence  and  trust.  To  his  wise  energy  New- 
ark owes  much  of  its  early  order  and  good  manage- 
ment. Having  served  the  town  in  various  capacities — 
as  its  Clerk,  and,  with  Jasper  Crane,  as  one  of  its  magis- 
trates and  deputies  to  the  Assembly — he  left  several  of 
his  children  here  as  a  most  acceptable  donation  to  the 
new  settlementjf  and  returned  in  the  year  1672  to  Con- 

*  Trumbull,  vol.  1,  p.  197.    The  leaders  '   +  "  The  children  of  Robert  Treat,  who 

in  the  enterprise  were  Jasper  Crane  and  settled  in  Newark,  were  John,  who  died 

William  Tuttle.    This  is  probably  the  set-  August  1,  1714,  aged  65;  his  daughter 

tlement  near  Cape  Maj,   of  which  Dr.  Sarah  married  to  Jonathan  Crane,  Esq., 

Macwhorter  speaks.    (Century  Sermon,  a  son  of  Jasper  Crane,  Jr.  ;    and    his 

p.  8.)    The  people  of  New  Haven  Colony  daughter  Mary,  the  wife  of  Deacon  Aza- 

had  purchased  laud  of  the  Indians  on  both  riah  Crane.     On  the  home-lot  of  Gover- 

sides  of  Delaware  bay  and  river,  and  had  nor  Treat,  which    was   occupied  by   the 

agents  and  a  trading  house  there ;    but  descendants  of  his  daughter    until    the 

I  have  seen  no  evidence   that  they  sue-  commencement  of  the  present  century, 

«eeded  in  actually  commencing  a  settle-  now  stands  the  house  of  worship  of  the 

meat.    See  Hazard's  State  Papers,  vol.  ii.  First  Presbyterian  Chnrch." S,II.  Congar. 


SAMUEL   SWAINE. 


33 


necticiit.  There  at  once  he  was  advanced  to  the  magis- 
tracy of  the  Province.  Becoming  a  Major  of  militia,  he 
distinguished  himself  in  various  military  operations 
against  the  Dutch  and  Indians ;  and,  at  the  battle  of 
"Bloody  Brook,"  when  the  "Flower  of  Essex"  fell, 
turned  the  tide  of  success  at  a  desperate  moment,  and 
saved  the  colonists  from  being  overrun  and  destroyed 
by  a  savage  foe.  He  was  the  Governor  of  Coimecti- 
cut  for  many  years,  and  his  name  is  one  of  the  bright- 
est on  her  early  rolls.* 

Samuel  Swainef  deserves  notice  as  having  been  con- 


*  See  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  1,  p. 
341,  Ac,  Everet's  Orations,  ("Battle  of 
Bloody  Brook.")  "  It  is  the  tradition," 
says  Trumbull,  "that  Major  (afterwards 
Governor)  Treat  received  a  ball  through 
the  brim  of  his  hat,  and  that  he  was  the 
last  man  who  left  the  Fort  in  the  dusk  of 
the  evening,  commanding  the  rear  of  the 
army."  "  He  that  commanded  our  forces 
then  and  now  vs,"  say  the  Legislature  of 
the  Colony,  "  made  no  less  than  seven- 
teen fair  shots  at  the  enemy,  and  was 
thereby  as  oft  a  tiiir  mark  for  them." 

Gov.  Treat  was  in  the  Chair  when.  Sir 
Edmond  Andros  attempting  to  seize  the 
charter  of  the  Colony,  the  people  extin- 
guished the  lights  in  the  Assembly  room, 
and  Capt.  Wadsworth  secretly  conveyed 
the  precious  instrument  of  liberty  to  a 
place  of  security  in  a  hollow  tree,  since 
called  from  that  circumstance  the  "  Char- 
ter Oak."  He  was  at  a  very  advanced  age 
when  he  retired  from  public  life.  Trum- 
bull iaysof  him,  (vol.  1,  p.  432,)  "Uehad 
been  three  years  a  magistrate,  and  thirty- 
two  years  Governor  or  Deputy-Governor 
of  the  Colony.  He  was  elected  magis- 
trate, May,  1673,  Deputy-Governor,  1G76, 
and  Governor,  16S3.  To  this  office  he 
was  annually  elected  fifteen  years  until 
1698.  He  was  then  chosen  Deputy-Gov- 
ernor until  the  year  1708.  He  died  about 
two  years  after,  July  12,  1710,  in  the  Both 
year  of  bis  age.    Few  meu  have  sustained 


a  fairer  character  or  rendered  the  public 
more  important  services.  He  was  an  ex- 
cellent military  officer ;  a  man  of  singular 
courage  and  resolution,  tempeied  with 
caution  and  prudence.  His  administra- 
tion of  Government  was  with  wisdom, 
firmness  and  integrity.  He  was  esteemed 
courageous,  wise  and  pious.  He  was  ex- 
ceedingly beloved  and  venerated  by  the 
people  in  general,  and  especially  by  his 
neighbors  at  Milford  where  he  resided." 
He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Edmund 
Tapp,  one  of  the  "seven  pillars"  on 
which  the  Church  at  Milford  laid  ita 
foundation  work.  (See  Lambert's  Hist. 
Col.  New  Haven,  pp.  100, 137.) 

+  Not  Swanie,  as  all  the  histories  have 
it.  "Samuel  Swaine's  daughter  Elizabeth 
was  the  wife  of  Josiah  Ward,  and  subse- 
quently of  David  Ogdcn,  who  left  four 
sons,  David,  John,  Josiah  and  Swaine. 
Col.  Josiah  (who  went  over  to  Episcopacy) 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  late  David  B.  Og- 
den,  Esq.  The  lamented  Mrs.  Caldwell, 
of  Elizabcthtown,  was  a  descendant  of 
David  Ogden.  Joanna,  another  daugh- 
ter of  Lieut.  Swaine,  married  Jasper  Crane, 
Jr.,  and  hence,  though  the  names  «f  Treat 
and  Swaine  may  not  be  found  in  our  City 
Directory,  their  representatives  are  very 
numerous." — S.  II.  ihngar. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  Col.  Josiah 
owed  his  name  to  the  affection  of  his  mo- 


34 


THE   OLD    CORN   MILL. 


stantly  chosen  for  "  tTie  third  man"  among  the  deputies 
to  the  General  Assembly  to  supply  the  place  of  either 
of  the  others  who  might  fail,  and  as  such  having  repre- 
sented the  town  instead  of  Jasper  Crane  in  the  first 
General  Assembly  ever  held  in  the  Province.  He  was 
a  mill-wright  by  trade,^'  and  a  Lieutenant  by  office,  and 


ther  for  the  memory  of  her  deceased  hus- 
band. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  Elizabeth 
Swaine  was  the  first  to  land  on  the  shore 
of  Newark,  having  been  merrily  handed 
up  the  bank  by  her  gallant  lover,  in  his 
ambition  to  secure  for  her  that  mark  of 
priority.  She  was  then,  says  the  same 
tradition,  nineteen  years  of  age,  which 
corresponds,  as  Mr.  Congar  informs  me, 
to  the  record  other  baptism. 

*  The  old  corn  mill  situated  on  "Mill 
Brook,"  near  the  present  Stone  Bridge, 
and  erected  by  Lieut.  Swaine's  skill,  de- 
serves a  passing  notice  as  among  the 
■primitiye 2}'iUlc  institutions  of  "our town 
upon  Passaic  river."  It  was  the  next 
considerable  undertaking  after  the  meet- 
ing house,  and  liberal  ofl'ers  were  at  first 
made  to  any  who  would  volunteer  in  the 
work,  "  for  the  supply  of  the  town  with 
good  grinding."  But  "  none  appearing 
to  accept  the  town's  motion  and  encour- 
agement," the  next  step  was  "  to  set  upon 
it  in  a  general  way  ;  and  moving  to  Lieut. 
Swaine  about  the  matter,  he  made  some 
propositions  to  the  town,"  and  they  final- 
ly came  to  an  agreement  to  give  him  for 
bis  services,  "twenty  shillings  by  the  week 
and  three  pounds  over  for  his  skill,"  unless, 
as  the  agreement  ran,  "  he  shall  see  cause 
to  abate  it,  which,  if  he  sho\ild  see  cause 
to  do,  the  town  will  take  it  thankfully." 
On  these  conditions  did  the  worthy  func- 
tionarv  encage  "  to  improve  his  time  and 
skill  to  the  best  advantage,"  "give  his 
best  advice  about  the  building  of  the 
dam  and  leveling  the  ground  as  the  town 
shall  need  him,"  and,  with  the  aid  of  Mr. 
Robert  Treat,  Henry  Lyon,  John  Brown 
and  Stephen  Davis,  made  choice  of  as  the 
town's  committee  "to  appoint  and  oversee 
the  work,  and  that,  as  near  as  they  can,  in 


an  equal  and  proportionate  way,  and  to 
keep  a  clear  and  distinct  account  of  each 
man's  work  and  layings  out  about  the 
work  ;"  together  with  that  of  Thomas- 
Pierson  and  George  Day,  appointed  "  to 
call  forth  the  men  to  labor"  at  the  proper 
times,  "as  the  committee  shall  agree 
upon,"  carry  the  whole  work  "  on  to  an 
end "  as  soon  as  conveniently  he  can. 
Forth  goes,  moreover,  a  trusty  commis- 
sion at  the  town's  command  "  upon  the 
discovery,  to  see  if  they  can  find  any  suita- 
ble atones  for  mill-stones,"  and,  the  whole 
body  politic  being  thus  fairly  enlisted,  a 
speedy  completion  of  the  work  was  no 
doubt  confidently  anticipated.  But  pri- 
vate enterprise  was  after  all  found  more 
reliable ;  and  at  the  end  of  one  year,  the 
work  still  lingering,  a  bargain  was  made 
with  Robert  Treat  and  Sergeant  Richard 
Harrison  to  build  the  mill  and  all  its  ap- 
purtenances, keep  it  in  repair,  furnish  the 
same  with  a  good  miller,  and  for  a  fixed 
rate  of  tolls  "grind  all  the  town's  grists 
into  good  meal."  For  their  encourage- 
ment the  exclusive  right  to  all  mill  privi- 
leges on  that  brook  were  guarantied, 
"  with  all  the  town's  grists  from 
time  to  time,  all  stones  capable  of  mill- 
stones in  the  town's  utmost  limits  and 
bounds,"  the  timber  which  before  had 
been  prepared,  all  the  lands  formerly 
granted  and  "  entailed  to  the  mill"  in  all 
respects  as  their  own  lands,  thirty  pounds 
in  current  articles,  and  "  two  days  work  of 
every  man  and  woman  that  holds  an  al- 
lotment in  the  town."  With  this  encour- 
agement the  work  went  on  apace;  the 
thirty  pounds  were  gathered  by  a  rate 
"  in  like  manner  as  the  rate  for  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Pierson,"  and  Saturday  and  Monday 
of  each  week  being  agreed  upon  as 
"grinding  days,"    the    sturdy  planters' 


DEACONS   TOMPKINS   AND   LA  WHENCE. 


35 


"was  raised  to  the  captaincy  of  tlie  Newark  forces  in 
1673,  shortly  after  Captain  Treat  returned  to  Connect- 
icut. 

Michael  Tompkins*  and  Richard  Lawrence,f  who 


boys,  each  mounted  on  horseback  with 
sacks  of  grain  en  croupe,  may  at  length 
be  imagined  wending  their  cheerful  way 
from  either  extremity  of  the  settlement 
to  where  the  huge  timbers  of  the  rude 
edifice  groaned  to  the  rushing  waters  and 
whirling  mill-stones ;  and  the  miller,  full 
of  bustle  and  importance,  was  seeking  to 
fulfill  his  promise  "  to  attend  to  his  grind- 
ing" and  "  do  as  for  himself  to  secure 
every  man's  grist"  from  harm  or  loss  "till 
it  be  closed  under  lock  and  key,"  when 
his  responsibility  was  to  be  ended.  Thir- 
teen years  later,  Robert  Treat  having  re- 
turned to  Connecticut,  and  Sergeant  Har- 
rison perhaps  growing  old,  the  right  to 
the  mill  was  conveyed,  with  the  town's 
consent,  to  the  three  younger  Harrisons — 
Samuel,  Joseph  and  George — who  as- 
sumed all  the  attendant  obligations  and 
responsibilities  as  mentioned  in  the  "cov- 
enant" made  between  the  town  and  their 
father.  Further  than  this,  concerning  the 
fate  of  the  old  corn  mill,  this  deponent  saith 
not.  (Town's  Records,  pp.  13,  14,  15,  29, 
37,  45.) 

*  The  following  notices  of  the  Tomp- 
kins family  were  gathered  by  Mr.  S.  H. 
Congar  from  the  ililford  Church  records  : 
"Michael  and  Mary  Tomkins  were  re- 
ceived as  church  members  12th  Decem- 
ber, 1643  ;  Seth,  son  of  Michael  Tomkins, 
was  baptized  in  1649;  Micah,  "son  of 
brother  Tomkins,"  was  baptized  at  New 
Haven  in  1660.  Mr.  C.  adds  :  "  I  have  no 
doubt  that  Michael  Tomkins  was  the 
man  who  hid  the  Judges  in  Milford. 
Tomkius's  name  does  not  appear  in  Mil- 
ford  books  after  the  settlement  of  New- 
ark, that  I  can  find."  The  story  of  the 
hiding  of  the  regicide  Judges  is  pleasant- 
ly told  by  President  Stiles  in  his  "  His- 
tory of  the  Three  Judges  of  King  Charles 
I,  viz :  Major  Generals  Gofi'e  and  Whal- 


ley  and  Col.  Dixwell,"  pp.  88,  89.  "  From 
their  lodgment  in  the  woods  the  Judges 
removed  and  took  up  an  ayslum  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Tomkins  in  the  centre  of 
Milford,  thirty  or  forty  rods  from  the 
meeting  house.  1  have  frequently  been 
in  this  house  of  Tomkins's.  It  was 
standing  since  1750,  and  perhaps  to  1770. 
In  this  house  the  two  Judges  resided  in 
the  most  absolute  concealment,  not  so 
much  as  walking  out  into  the  orchard  for 
two  years."  Mr.  Treat,  he  adds,  was  in 
the  secret,  and  a  few  others.  The  house 
is  thus  described :  "  It  was  a  building,  say 
twenty  feet  square,  and  two  stories  ;  the 
lower  room  built  with  stone  wall  and  con- 
sidered as  a  store ;  the  room  over  it  with 
timber  and  wood,  and  used  by  Tomkins's 
family  as  a  work  or  spinning-room." 
"  The  family,"  he  adds,  "used  to  spin  in 
the  room  above,  ignorant  of  the  Judges 
being  below.  Judge  Buckingham  tells 
me  this  story,  the  only  anecdote  or  notice 
I  could  ever  learn  from  a  Milford  man 
now  living.  While  they  sojourned  at 
Milford,  there  came  over  from  England 
a  ludicrous  cavalier  ballad,  satirizing 
Charles's  Judges,  and  Gofle  and  Whalley 
among  the  rest.  A  spinstress  at  Milford 
had  learned  to  sing  it,  and  used  some- 
times to  sing  it  in  the  chamber  over  the 
Judges ;  and  the  Judges  used  to  get 
Tomkins  to  set  the  girls  to  singing  the 
song  for  their  diversion,  being  humored 
and  pleased  with  it,  though  at  their  own 
expense,  as  they  were  the  subjects  of  the 
ridicule.  The  girls  knew  nothing  of  the 
matter,  being  ignorant  of  the  innocent 
device,  and  little  thought  that  they  were 
serenading  angels."  Deacon  Tompkins  is 
first  mentioned  as  Deacon  in  the  Town 
Records,  Dec.  29,  1670.   (Rec,  p.  81.) 

t  Deacon  Lawrence  first  appears  by  that 
title  in  the  Records,  Jan.  2, 1670-1.    (Rec, 


36 


FIRST   SETTLEES. 


succeeded  Lawrence  Ward  in  the  office  of  deacon,  and 
were  probably  elected  about  tlie  time  of  his  decease, 
appear  to  have  been  men  of  true  worth  and  considera- 
ble influence  in  the  community. 

Besides  these,  there  were  Matthew  Camfield*  and 
Obadiah  Bruen,  Eobert  Kitchell,  formerly  one  of  the 
"  seven  pillars"  of  the  Church  in  Guilford,  and  his  son 
Samuel,  married  to  Grace,  daughter  of  Abraham 
Pierson,  senior,f  John  Curtis,  and  Jeremiah  Peck,  and 
Thomas  Morris,  and  Thomas  Luddington.  There  were 
other  Piersons,  Cranes,  TompMnsesJ  and  Wards.§ 
There  were  Baldwins,!   and  Burwells,^  and  Blatch- 


p.  32.)  He  was  one  of  the  Branford  party, 
as  was  Tompkins  of  the  Milford.  Proba- 
bly both  were  appointed  at  the  same 
time. 

*  Matthew  Camfield  is  said  to  have 
come  from  Norwalk.  He  had  four  sons, 
Samuel,  Ebenezer,  Matthew  and  Jonathan. 
Jonathan  died  Nov.  26,  16S8,  and  left  his 
property  to  his  two  brothers.  Samuel 
Camfield  settled  in  Norwalk,  and  received 
his  portion  of  his  father's  estate  there.  The 
will  says :  "  He  shall  have  nothing  here." 

+  She  was,  it  is  said,  his  second  wife. 
His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wakeman, 
married  in  1651. 

X  Seth  Tompkins,  son  of  Michael,  does 
not  appear  among  the  first  subscribers, 
but  soon  after.  He  must  have  been  only 
17  years  of  age  when  the  first  party  arrived. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Kitchel.  The  name  of  Jonathan  Tomp- 
kins appears  among  the  original  subscri 
bers. 

§  Two  John  Wards,  whose  names  ap- 
pear among  the  original  subscribers,  be- 
longing to  the  Milford  party,  were  usually 
distinguished  as  John  Ward,  senior,  or 
Sergeant  Ward,  and  John  Ward  Turner 
or  Dishturner.  John  Ward  Turner  was 
a  nephew  of  Deacon  Lawrence  Ward  and 


a  cousin  of  John  Catlin.  There  were  two 
of  the  same  name  and  profession  subse- 
quently, probably  the  latter  a  son  of  the 
former.  (Town  Book  of  Surveys,  &c.,  pp« 
1,  13,  54.) 

II  Two  Baldwins  were  among  the  origi- 
nal subscribers— John,  senior,  and  John, 
junior.  Benjamin  Baldwin  was  also  among 
the  first  settlers.  John  Baldwin,  senior? 
was  among  those  who  had  special  grants 
made  them  by  the  town  "  for  staying  on 
the  place  so  much  the  first  summer!" 
In  1673,  he  with  three  others  had  deter- 
mined to  remove  to  what  was  called 
"  Barbadoes  Neck,"  then  recently  pur- 
chased of  the  Dutch,  but  they  were  pre- 
vented from  remaining  there  by  a  defect  in 
the  title.  John  Baldwin,  junior,  became 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  town 
after  a  few  years,  and  was  chosen  to  the 
highest  offices.  They  were  both  men  of 
moderate  estate.  Benjamin  Baldwin  was 
a  weaver.    (Town  Kecords.) 

IT  Only  one  Burwell  appears  among  the 
original  subscribers,  viz :  Ephraim.  But 
Zechariah  was  also  among  the  first  set- 
tlers. Zechariah  and  Elizabeth  Burwell 
had  numerous  children,  who  were  con- 
nected by  marriage  with  several  promin- 
ent Newark  families. 


FIRST  SETTLERS. 


37 


leys,  and  Harrisons,  and  Jolinsons*  and  Lyons.f 
There  were  Penningtons  J — Ephraim  and  Lis  two  young 
sons,  Ephraim  and  Judah.  There  were  Riggses — 
Sergeant  Edward,  and  liis  two  sons,  Edward  and  Jo- 
seph. There  were  Dods,§  and  Browns,!  iiiore  than 
one.  There  was  a  Ball  and  a  Bond,  a  Camp  and  a 
Catlin,  a  Davis  and  a  Day,  a  Freeman  and  a  Hunting- 
ton, a  Lyman  and  a  Linle,  a  Rose  and  a  Plum.  There 
was  Robert  Denison  with  "  his  mark,"  and  John  Brooks 
with  "  his  mark."  There  was  Hugh  Roberts,  and  Hans 
Albers,  and  Robert  Dalglesh,  and  Jonathan  Sargeant,^ 
and  Martin  and  Daniel  Tichenor,  and  Joseph  Walters, 
and  Nathaniel  "Wheeler,  and  John  Rogers — in  all, 
sixty-three  at  the   beginning,   and  more   afterwards. 


*  There  were  two  Johnsons  among  the 
the  original  subscribers — John  and  Thom- 
as; the  former  of  the  Branford  and  the 
latter  of  the  Milford  party.  Thomas 
Johnson  became  one  of  the  most  promin- 
ent men  in  the  settlement.  He  was  one 
of  the  committee  of  eleven  chosen  at  the 
preliminary  town  meeting,  and  during  his 
life  occupied  successively  almost  every 
gradation  of  office.  His  residence  was 
on  the  north-east  comer  of  Broad  and 
Walnut  streets,  the  site  now  occupied  by 
Grace  Church. 

t  Henry  Lyon  removed  after  a  few- 
years  to  Elizabethtown,  but  seems  to  have 
been  unwilling  to  lose  his  Church  privi- 
leges here ;  for  under  date  of  July  24, 1680, 
we  find  the  following :  "  It  is  voted  that 
Henry  Lyon  hath  a  right  to,  and  shall 
have  a  seat  in  the  meeting  house,  paying 
proportionably  with  hi.s  neighbors."— 
(Town  Records,  p.  SO.)  He  was  the  first 
Town  Treasurer  of  Newark.  There  was 
also  a  Samuel  Lyon,  and  a  Thomas,  who 
made  "his  mark"  among  the  Branford  men. 

X  Ephraim  Pennington  was  a  young 
man,  married  at  Milford,  Oct.  25,  16G7,  to 
Mary  Brocket.  Ephraim  and  Judah  must 
have  been  born  in  Newark.    Lands  were 


surveyed  to  them  in  the  right  of  their 
father,  after  his  decease,  as  appears  by 
the  Town  Book  of  Surveys,  "  half  to 
Ephraim  and  half  to  Judah." 

§  The  Dods  were  all  minors  when  they 
came  to  Newark,  their  father,  Daniel  D., 
having  died  in  Branford  in  IG64-5.  But 
the  eldest,  Daniel,  became  of  age  soon  af- 
ter, and  his  name  appears  in  the  "  sure 
list"  by  which  the  lands  were  divided, 
though  not  among  the  first  signers  of  the 
fundamental  agreements.  His  sister 
Mary  was  the  wife  of  Aaron  Blatchly  > 
married  before  they  came  to  Newark. 
(See  Dod's  East  Haven  Register,  Appen- 
dix, p.  13.) 

II  John  Brown,  senior  and  junior,  were 
among  the  subscribers  of  the  fundamen- 
tal agreement,  and  both  of  the  Milford 
party.  When  Mr.  Treat  returned  to  Con- 
necticut, John  Brown,  Jr.,  was  chosen  to 
succeed  him  in  the  office  of  Town  Clerk. 

^  Jonathan  Sargeant  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Rev.  John  Sargeant,  father  and  son, 
missionaries  to  the  Indians,  and  of  the 
Hon.  John  .Sargeant,  late  of  Philadelphia. 
In  1669  he  had  lands  assigned  him  on  con- 
dition that  he  would  "abide  in  the  town 
and  follow  his  trade."    Town  Rec,  p.  27. 


38  CHARACTER   OF   THE   SETTLERS. 

whose  virtues  served  their  generation,  and  whose 
faults,  if  any  they  had,  have  long  since  passed  into  ob- 
livion.* 

But  though  there  is  little  left  now  by  which  to  indi- 
vidualize these  venerable  men,  the  records  of  their 
corporate  acts  and  the  works  they  accomplished,  point 
them  out  as  men  of  no  ordinary  excellence.  Strict 
Puritans  we  have  already  called  them ;  and  they  seem 
to  have  possessed  all  the  virtues  of  the  Puritan,  with 
scarcely  one  of  the  faults  alleged  against  that  ancient 
race.f 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more  perfectly  well- 
regulated  community  anywhere,  than  that  which  they 
established  here  on  the  banks  of  the  Passaic.  All 
their  affairs  were  conducted  on  the  most  perfect  sys- 
tem. The  public  burdens  were  carefully  distributed 
among  the  settlers,  in  proportion  to  their  estates  ;  and 
where  services  were  to  be  performed  in  common,  every 
man  under  their  several  leaders  had  his  j)lace  fixed  and 
assigned  him,  that  there  might  be  no  neglect,  delay  or 
interference.  Whether  the  work  were  to  clear  the 
highways  of  the  obtruding  vegetation,  J  make  or  re- 

*  Besides  the  names  above  mentioned,  +  As  to  the  puritan  rigidity  of  the  peo- 

the  "  sure  list"  of  every   man's  estate  pie,    take  the   following  testimony  of  a 

made  in  1667,   contains  those  of  John  Scotchman,  lately  came  among  them  in 

Bostwick,  Thomas  Staples  and  Alexander  1684:    "Most  part  of  the  first  settlers 

Munrow.    Another  list,  made  the  same  came  out  of  New  England,  very  kind  and 

year,  contains  those  of  Benjamin  Fenn,  loving  people ;  kinder  than  in  Scotland  or 

Mr.  Leete,  John  Gregory,  Eleazer  Rogers  England."    (See  Peter  Watson's  letter, 

and  John  Rockwell.    Mr.  being  then  a  Whitehead,  p.  802.) 
title  of  distinction,   is   applied  in   these 

lists  to  eleven  persons,  viz :  Messrs.  Ab.  |   "  Stubbing    the    highways    in    the 

Pierson,  senior  and  junior,  Robert  and  town,"  is  the  expression  used  in  the  Rec- 

Samuel  Kitchel,  Jeremiah  Peck,  ords.     In  this  work  all  men  from  16  to  60 

Morris,  Jasper  Crane,  Robert  Treat,  years  of  age  were  required  to  labor  as  they 

—  Leete,  Matthew  Camfield  and  Obadiah  were  called  out.    Records,  p.  51. 
Bruen.    Others  had  military  titles. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF   BURDENS. 


39 


pair  the  fences,  ditcli  the  meadows,*  burn  the  \voods,f 
use  the  common  lands  for  the  pasturing  of  cattle,  pay 
the  public  charges,  or  carry  Mr.  Pierson's  wood  to  his 
door  J — all  was  regulated  with  the  precision  of  a  mili- 
tary manoeuvre,  and  each  man  knew  his  part  and  his 
time.  Only  one  service  seems  to  have  been  performed 
with  great  reluctance,  and  that  was  the  attendance 
upon  town  meetings  ;  and  here,  in  spite  of  fines  over 
and  over  imposed  on  the  delinquents,  the  voters  seem 
to  have  continued  long  to  disregard  their  high  privi- 
leges and  franchises.§ 


*  A  curious  order  about  ditching  the 
meadows  is  recorded  at  length  in  the 
Town  Records,  pp.  17,  18,  under  date  of 
June  10,  1669.  Every  man  is  required 
to  work  one  day  for  each  £200  of 
estate.  Two  rods  in  length  is  to  be  taken 
for  a  day's  work.  The  planters  are  di- 
vided into  two  companies,  of  which  Ser- 
geant Riggs  is  to  command  the  one,  and 
Sergeant  Harrison  the  other,  and  every 
man  must  set  up  stakes  marked  with  the 
two  first  letters  of  his  name  at  each  end 
of  his  work,  so  that  the  Surveyor  may 
know  whether  he  has  done  his  part,  and 
how  he  has  done  it.  The  men  are  to 
come  out  and  work  in  succession  as  they 
are  called  by  their  leaders,  notice  having 
been  given  the  day  previous. 

+  The  burning  of  the  woods  seems  to 
have  been  a  very  serious  operation.  Every 
year  a  committee  was  appointed  and 
clothed  with  power  to  say  when  and  only 
when  the  work  should  be  undertaken. 
On  the  appointed  day,  at  beat  of  drum, 
every  planter  was  required,  on  penalty  of 
a  fine,  to  present  himself  at  "the  com- 
mon place  of  meeting,  and  then  and  there 
come  to  an  agreement  with  his  neighbors 
as  to  the  best  manuer  of  proceeding  for 
the  best  good  of  the  town,"  and  neither 
in  woods  nor  meadows  nor  about  the 
fences  was  any  fire  to  be  set  until  at 
early  morning  hour  the  beating  of  the 
drum  from  Thomas  Johnson's  up  to  Ser- 


geant Ward's  should  give  the  required 
notice  to  begin.  In  this  work,  likewise, 
every  man  from  16  years  to  60  was  to  work 
his  day.  (Town  Records,  pp.  13,  46,  74, 
138.) 

X  The  following  extracts  from  the  Towa 
Records  shows  the  habits  of  the  people  in 
this  particular : 

"  Nov.  24,  1679.— It  is  agreed  that  two 
men  in  each  quarter  shall  be  appointed  to 
look  after  the  carrying  in  Mr.  Pierson's 
wood  this  year,and  take  care  that  it  is  done 
seasonably,  and  also  to  see  that  every  one 
as  is  yet  behind  for  the  last  year  do  first  car- 
ry their  load  of  wood ;  and  for  their  pains 
and  care  shall  be  exempted  from  their 
load  of  wood.  Mr.  Johnson  and  George 
Day  for  their  quarter,  and  Mr.  Kitchel 
and  David  Ogden  for  their  quarter,  Deacon 
Lawrence  and  John  Ward  Turner  for 
their  quarter,  and  John  Walters  and 
Thomas  Pierson,  junior,  for  their  quarter 
are  chosen  ;  every  quarter  to  go  out  when 
the  men  see  cause  to  call."    Rec,  p.  76. 

§  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  tlie  privilege 
of  voting  in  public  aflairs,  exclusive  as  it 
was,  should  have  been  so  little  valued. 
We  do  uot  hear  of  any  fines  imposed  by 
these  same  rigid  Puritans  for  neglect  to 
attend  public  worship;  but  absence  from 
town  meetings  was  treated  as  a  very  se- 
rious offence.  After  various  attempts  to 
remedy  the  evil,  without  success,  an  or- 
der was  adopted  in  the  year  1676,  to  this 


40  LOVING   AGEEEMENT. 

Differences  there  were  from  time  to  time  between 
man  and  man,  but  tliey  were  generally  soon  set- 
tled by  means  of  mutnal  agreements,  or  at  worst  by  a 
Committee  specially  appointed  for  that  purpose.  Of 
this  a  beautiful  example  is  to  be  seen  in  the  adjustment 
of  the  boundary  between  the  towns  of  Newark  and  Eliz- 
abethtown.  It  stands  on  record,  that  Jasj^er  Crane, 
Robert  Treat,  Matthew  Camfield,  Samuel  Swaine  and 
Thomas  Johnson,  commissioned  with  full  powers  from 
the  town  of  Newark,  met  with  John  Ogden,  Luke 
Watson,  Robert  Bond  and  Jeffrey  Jones,  bearing  a 
similar  commission  from  the  sister  settlement,  on  a  lit- 
tle round  hill  named  thenceforth  Divident  Hill.^' 
There,  it  is  said  on  the  authority  of  an  old  man  who 
testified  on  oath  that  he  received  the  account  from  one 
of  the  parties,  Robert  Treat  first  led  them  in  prayer 
"  that  there  might  be  good  agreement  between  them ;" 
and  when  their  task  was  ended,  "  John  Ogden  prayed 
among  the  people,  and  gave  thanks  for  their  loving 
agreement.''^     Nor  is  it  strange  that  the  devout  and 

efiFect :  Town  meetings  may  be  called  by  offences  had  to  be  passed  more  than  once, 
the  townsmen,  and  24  hours  shall  be  ac-  so  prevailing  was  the  disposition  to  be  de- 
counted  legal  warning.  "  The  drum  is  to  linquent.  (Town  Records,  pp.  9,  36,  50, 
be  beaten  twice  in  ftiir  weather ;  the  first  59,  98,  114.) 

drum  is  to  be  beaten  as  far  as  Sergeant        *  Not  "  Dividend,"  as  it  has  been  called 

Harrison's  gate,  and  the  second  at  the  subsequently.    The  word  seems  to  have 

meeting  house  about  half  an  hour  after,  at  been  coined  from  the  Latin  dividens,  and 

which  time  every  planter  shall  be  at  the  means  dividing.    The  line  there  drawn 

place  of  meeting  to  answer  to  his  name."  was  called   "  the  divident  line,"  and  the 

The  fines  imposed  weie  six-pence  for  tar-  hill,  for  the  same  reason,  the  "Divident 

diness,   fifteen  shillings  for  a  half  day's  Hill."    Dividend  would  carry  a  different 

absence,  half  a  crown  for  a  whole  day,  meaning,  and  is  not  used  in  the  Record, 

and  two  shillings  for  going  away  before  Sec  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  8. 
the  meeting  was  dismissed.    Absence  for        f  Answer  to  Bill  in  Chancery,  p.  47 — 

any  part  of  the  day  incurred  the  loss  of  a  If  any  spot  in   this   vicinity  deserves  a 

man's  vote.     This    order    was    renewed  monument  it  is  the  "little  round  hill  called 

with  great  unanimity  in  1680,  1683  and  Divident  Hill,"  where  the  pious  fathers 

and  1690.    But  acts  of  indemnity  for  past  of  Newark  and  Elizabethtown  made  and 


PEESERVATION   OF   OKDER. 


41 


cliivalroiis  magistrate  should  have  tliought  the  work 
done  "in  so  loving  and  solemn  a  manner"  that  the 
boundary  then  and  there  set  ought  never  to  be  re- 
moved ;  although,  alas  for  human  frailty,  we  find  the 
same  boundary  made  the  subject  of  less  loving  alterca- 
tion many  years  afterwards. 

For  the  preservation  of  internal  order,  the  measures 
which  these  worthy  men  employed,  seem  to  have  been 
strict,  yet  not  severe.  A  single  man,  of  approved 
character,  was  appointed  to  keep  an  ordinary,  or  public 
house  "  for  the  entertainment  of  travelers  and  stran- 
gers,"*   and  he  alone  was  allowed  to  retail   ardent 


solemnized  "their  loving  agreement." 
The  pagans  of  classic  days  would  have 
been  sure  to  erect  there  a  splendid  temple 
of  Concord.  The  following  beautiful  lines 
by  Mrs.  E.  C.  Kinney,  wife  of  Hon.  Wm. 
B.  Kinney,  American  Charge  d'Aflfaires  at 
Turin,  area  worthy  tribute: 

Pause  here,  0  Muse !  that  Fancy's  eye 

May  trace  the  footprints  still 
Of  men  that,  centuries  gone  by, 

With  prayer  ordained  this  hill : 
As  lifts  the  misty  veil  of  years, 

Such  visions  here  arise 
As  when  the  glorious  Past  appears 

Before  enchanted  eyes. 

I  see  from  midst  the  faithful  few 

Whose  deeds  yet  live  sublime — 
Whose  guileless  spirits,  brave,  as  true, 

Are  models  'for  all  time,' 
A  group  upon  this  height  convened — 

In  solemn  prayer  they  stand — 
Men,  on  whose  sturdy  wisdom  leaned 

The  settlers  of  our  land. 

In  mutual  love  the  line  they  trace 

That  will  their  homes  divide, 
And  ever  mark  the  chosen  place 

That  prayer  hath  sanctified  : 
And  here  it  stands — a  temple  old. 

Which  crumbling  Time  still  braves; 
Though  ages  have  their  cycles  rolled 

Above  those  patriots'  graves. 

As  Christ  transfigured  on  the  height 
The  three  beheld  with  awe. 

And  near  his  radiant  form,  in  white. 
The  ancient  prophets  saw; 


So,  on  this  summit  I  behold 

With  beatific  sight, 
Once  more  our  praying  sires  of  old, 

As  spirits  clothed  in  light. 

A  halo  crowns  the  sacred  hill. 

And  thence  glad  voices  raise 
A  song  that  doth  the  concave  fill — 

Their  prayers  are  turned  to  praise  ! 
Art  may  not  for  these  saints  ot  old 

The  marble  urn  invent ; 
Yet  here  the  Future  shall  behold 

Their  Heaven-built  monument. 

*  The  first  person  designated  to  this 
office  was  Henry  Lyon,  the  town  Treas- 
urer, who,  at  the  town  meeting  in  Jan'y, 
1668-9,  is  recorded  as  having  been  chosen, 
and  directed  "  to  prepare  for  it  as  soon  as 
he  can."  Two  years  later,  "the  town 
chose  Thomas  Johnson"  for  the  keeper  of 
the  ordinary,  "  and  prohibited  all  others 
from  selling  any  strong  liquors  by  retail 
under  a  gallon,  unless  in  case  of  necessiti/, 
and  that  by  license  from  the  town  magis- 
trate." Again,  two  years  after  this,  it  is 
on  record,  that  "  Mr.  Crane  having  liquors 
for  six  shillings  a  gallon,  and  Is.  Od.  a 
quart,  they  paying  wheat  for  it,  hath  lib- 
erty to  sell  liquors  in  the  town  till  the 
country  order  alter  it."  Such  was  the  old 
"license  law"  and  its  operation  in  the 
town  of  Newark  in  Puritan  times.  A  still 
stricter  law  was  enacted  by  the  Asembly 
in  166S,  but  its  authority  had  probably  ex- 
pired.   Newark  Town  Records. 


42  PEESEEVATION    OF    ORDER. 

spirits  except  by  a  special  license.  To  secure  the 
settlement  against  the  annoyance  of  evil-minded  per- 
sons, who  might  be  disposed  to  intrude  upon  it,  it  was 
determined,  among  the  original  agreements  on  the 
basis  of  which  the  lands  were  taken  up,  that  whoever 
should  desire  to  become  a  settler  must,  if  a  stranger, 
bring  a  certificate  of  good  character  "from  the  chief 
of  the  place"  whence  he  came,  and  then  be  received 
into  the  community  by  a  vote  of  the  town.  Nor  was 
any  land  allowed  to  be  alienated,  except  in  case  of  in- 
heritance, without  the  town's  consent.  Hence  we  find 
in  their  early  proceedings,  repeated  notices  of  permis- 
sion given  to  individuals  to  purchase  real  estate  of  such 
and  such  persons.  And  should  lands  be  sold  contrary 
to  this  regulation  the  sale  was  void,  and  the  land,  not 
confiscated  to  the  town's  use,  but  returned  into  their 
hands,  "  they  paying  the  owner  or  possessor  of  it  valua- 
able  consideration  as  indifl:erent  men  shall  apj^raise  it."* 
"  To  prevent  the  disorderly  meeting  of  young  persons  at 
unseasonable  times,"  a  law  was  made  that  no  master  of  a 
family  should  allow  such  meetings  on  his  premises  in  the 

*  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  3,  5,  &c.  or  otherwise,  sell,  give  nor  auy  way  alien- 
This  may  §erve  to  account  for  an  order  ate  or  pass  on  lease,  or  let  any  house  or 
very  stringent  in  its  aspect,  which  was  house  lot,  or  any  part  or  parcel  of  them, 
passed  by  the  town  in  the  year  1681,  when  or  any  land  of  what  kind  or  quahty  soever 
the  settlement  began  to  be  troubled  with  to  any  such  person  ;  nor  shall  any  planter 
undesirable  visitors.  It  is  as  follows:  or  inheriter  permit  auy  such  person  or 
"  To  prevent  sundry  inconveniences  which  persons  so  coming  and  resorting,  to  stay 
may  grow  to  this  town  of  Newark,  by  the  or  abide  above  one  month,  without  license 
inconsiderate  receiving  and  entertaining  from  those  the  town  shall  appoint  for  that 
of  strangers  among  us,  it  is  voted  that  purpose,  under  the  penalty  of  five  pounds 
henceforward  no  planter  belonging  to  us,  for  every  such  defect,  besides  all  damages 
or  within  our  bounds  or  limits,  receive  or  that  may  grow  by  such  entertainment." 
entertain  any  man  or  woman,  of  what  age  Town  Records,  p.  84.  The  whole  race  de- 
er quality  soever,  coming  or  resorting  to  nominated  loafrs,  it  seems,  used  to  find 
us,  to  settle  upon  their  land;  nor  shall  little  quarter  in  "our  town  upon  Passaic 
any  person  that  hath  been  received  as  a  river,"  in  the  days  of  the  Puritans. 
planter  among  us  by  right  of  inheritance 


SCHOOL QUIT    RENTS.  43 

night  after  nine  o'clock,  "  extraordinary  occasions  ex- 
cepted," nor  under  any  circumstances  should  he  permit 
such  persons  "  to  spend  their  time,  money  or  provis- 
ions inordinately,  in  drinking,  gaming  and  such  like," 
nor  in  "  any  carriage,  conference  or  council  which  tends 
to  corrupt  one  another."  The  penalty  for  transgress- 
ing this  law  was  to  be  "  such  fines  as  the  authorities 
shall  see  fit." 

The  first  school  law  enacted  in  the  Province,  was  in 
the  year  1693.  But  long  before  tj^is,  as  early  as  16T6, 
"  the  schoolmaster  was  abroad"  here,  and  the  town's 
men  authorized  by  vote  to  perfect  the  bargain  with 
him  on  condition  that  he  "  do  his  faithful,  honest  and 
true  endeavor,"  to  teach  the  children  or  servants  read- 
ing, writing  and  arithmetic* 

In  the  management  of  their  relations  with  the  Pro- 
prietors, the  people  of  this  town  appear  to  have  acted 
with  great  discretion  and  fidelity.  When*  the  time  ap- 
proached for  the  first  payment  of  the  annual  quit-rents, 
some  of  the  settlements  were  in  great  commotion — the 
claims  of  the  Proprietors  were  denied,  and  the  arrival 
of  the  25th  of  March,  1670,  "caused  the  suppressed 
passions  of  those  inimical  to  the  existing  government, 
to  break  forth  at  once  in  decided  and  violent  opposi- 
tion."f  But  no  such  scenes  took  place  on  the  banks 
of  the  Passaic.  The  Governor  fearing,  perhaps,  there 
might  be  some  reluctance,  wrote  to  the,  people  here 

*  Newark   Town   Records,   p.  64      In  a  freeholder  on  condition  of  setting  his 

1671  we  find  a  notice  that  "Richard ,"  name  to  our  agreements,  and    he  hath 

probably  either  Richard  Fletcher  or  Rich-  promised  to  set  about  learning  to  read, 

ard  Hore,  who  seems  to  have  had  the  mis-  which  was    an  encouragement  to   them 

fortune  afterwards,  of  becoming  the  first  herein."    p.  37. 
pauper  in  the  settlement,  "  is  admitted  as        t  Whitehead,  p.  54. 


44 


CIVIL   AND   DIVINE   EIGHTS. 


more  than  a  month  before  tlie  payment  became  due. 
Their  prompt  reply,  spiced  it  may  be  with  a  little  just 
indignation  at  being  even  suspected,  and  showing  suf- 
ficient resolution  to  defend  their  own  rights  from  arbi- 
trary encroachments,  while  they  freely  yielded  all  that 
belonged  to  others,  deserves  special  notice  as  a  speci- 
men of  character.  It  is  on  record'^'  that  "  the  Gover- 
nor's writing  was  read,  and  after  some  debate  upon  it, 
they  agreed  as  follows :  '  After  all  due  salutations,  pre- 
sented by  the  constable,  to  our  worshipful  Governor, 
we,  the  inhabitants  and  freeholders  of  the  towm  of 
Newark,  do,  by  him,  make  returns  to  the  said  Gover- 
nor's writing,  as  followeth,  viz.:  That  they  do  hold 
and  possess  their  lands  and  rights  in  the  said  town, 
both  by  a  civil  and  a  divine  right,  as  by  their  legal 
purchase  and  articles  doth  and  may  show.'  "f  That  is 
to  say,  they  had  acquired  a  divine  right  by  a  fair  j)ur- 
chase  from  the  natives,  to  whom  in  their  esteem,  God 


*  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  27. 

•f  It  has  been  inferred,  from  the  fact 
that  the  people  made  so  much  of  their  Indi- 
an titles,  that  they  were  disposed  to  disown 
those  given  by  the  Proprietors,  and  repu- 
diate their  own  corresponding  obligations. 
Nothing  could  be  further  from  the  truth, 
as  far  as  respects  the  people  of  Newark. 
Their  Indian  titles  they  regarded  as  the 
basis  of  their  moral  rights,  and  kept  them 
carefully  to  be  filed  in  at  the  court  of 
Heaven.  But  their  titles  from  the  Pro- 
prietors, both  before  and  after  they  took 
patents,  were  preserv'ed  by  them  as  the 
basis  of  their  civil  rights,  in  virtue  of 
which  they  claimed  of  the  Proprietary 
Government  protection  and  defence 
against  the  pretensions  of  all  other  civil- 
ized claimants.  "  The  Puritans  and  the 
lawyers,"  says  Mr.  Bancroft,  "  differed 
widely  on  the  subject  of  real  estate  in  the 


New  World."  But,  however  that  may 
have  been,  the  Newark  Puritans  were  de- 
termined to  maintain  no  controversy  of 
doubtful  issue  with  either  the  lawyers  or 
their  own  private  consciences ;  and  with 
a  magnanimity  scarce  paralleled  except 
among  their  brethren  of  the  same  noble 
race,  both  purchased  of  the  Indians,  pay- 
ing them  to  their  full  satisfaction,  and 
took  legal  titles  from  the  Proprietary 
claimants,  discharging  promptly  and 
cheerfully  their  whole  demand  for  every 
inch  of  land  of  which  they  claimed  to 
be  owners.  This  is  what  I  understand 
by  the  words  "you  assuring  them  to  us," 
and  the  demand  repeatedly  made  by  them 
to  be  protected  in  the  peaceable  enjoyment 
of  "our  right  and  title  to  the  land  we 
bought  of  the  heathen."  Town  Records, 
pp.  27, 101. 


QUIT-EENTS    PAID    PROMPTLY.  45 

had  given  a  just  claim  to  tliis  country,  and  a  civil  right 
by  an  agreement  with  the  Lords  Proprietors,  by  whom 
they  claimed  to  be  defended  in  the  peaceable  posses- 
sion of  what  they  had  so  acquired.  "  And  as  for  the 
payment  of  the  half-penny  per  acre  for  all  our  allotted 
lands,"  they  add,  "  according  to  our  articles,  and  inter- 
pretations of  them,  you  assuring  them  [the  lands]  to 
us,  we  are  ready,  when  the  time  comes,  to  perform  our 
duty  to  the  Lords  or  their  assigns."  Accordingly, 
when  the  time  came,  or  rather  the  day  previous,  a 
vote  was  passed  that  every  man  bring  in  to  the  ap- 
pointed receivers,  "his  just  share  and  proportion  of 
wheat  for  his  lands ;"  and  that  on  "  the  next  day,"  the 
25th  of  March,  1*7  70,  the  day  fixed  by  the  Concessions, 
the  said  receivers  "  should  carry  it  to  Elizabethtown, 
and  make  a  tender  of  it  to  the  Governor  upon  the  ac- 
count of  the  Lords  Proprietors'  rent."*     Year  by  year, 

*  Town  Kecords,  p.  29.    Tliat  individ-  the  lands  we  make  use  of  accokding  to 

uals  in  the  community  may  have  been  de-  articles  March  25, 1670." — pp.  2S-9. 
linquent  or  tardy  in  their  discharge  of  pe-        "  Town  meeting,  20  March,1670-1.   Item 

cuniaryobHgationsisverynkely;buthow  —It  was  agreed  that  Henry  Lyon   and 

far  it  is  possible  to  fix  such  a  charge  upon  Thomas  Johnson  shall  go  to  our  Governor 

the  people  of  Newark,   as  a  community,  in  behalf  of  the  town  and  make  a  tender  to 

let  the  following  extracts  from  the  Town  him  in  good  wheat  for  the  payment  of  their 

Records  tell.    Quit-rents  first  became  due  halfpenny  per  acre  to  him  for  the  Lords 

March  25, 1670.  Proprietors  in  like  manner  as  they  did  the 

"Town  meeting,  March  24, 1G69-70,  it  last  year,  at  the  day  appointed,  in  case  he 

was  by  their  joint  vote  agreed  that  Henry  will  accept  of  the  same.     That  then  they 

Lyon  [the  treasurer]  and  Thomas  Johnson  are  fully  empowered  to  give  notice  by  the 

[the  constable]  should  take  and  receive  warners  of  the  town  for  every  one  to  bring 

every  man's  just  share  and  proportion  of  in  his  proportion  of  corn  to  the  constable's 

wheat  for  his  land,  the  summer  wheat  at  house  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed,  by 

46\  per  bushel,  and  winter  wheat  at  5*.,  seven  or  eight  o'clock,  that'they  may  send 

according  to  the  order  and  time  prefixed  to  it  to  their  Governor  and  take  a  discharge 

them,  to  bnng  it  to  Johnson's  house  before  of  him  for  the  same ;  and  they  are  at  least 

the  day  be  over;  or  else  if  they  fail  they  to  bring  in  as  much  as  they  did  last  year 

are  to  double  the  quantity;  which  corn  and  more  if  Ihuy  [the  officers]  see  cause '' 

the  said  Lyon  and  Johnson  arc  to-morrow  N.  B.-The  doubt  seems  to  have  been 

to  carry  to  Elizabethtown  and  make  a  ten-  whether  the  Governor  would  accept  the 

der  thereof  to  the  Governor  upon  the  ac-  quit-rents  in  wheal,  as  they  had  no  money, 

count  of  the  Lords  Proprietors'  rent  for  —p.  33. 


46  LAW   AND    OEDEK. 

througli  all  tliat  early  period,  and  notwitlistanding 
wliat  was  done  to  the  contrary  elsewhere,  this  order 
was  regularly  renewed ;  and  it  is  no  small  compliment 
to  the  town,  that  the  Proprietors,  three  quarters  of  a 
century  after,  make  the  declaration  that  so  far  as  they 
know,  neither  they  nor  their  predecessors,  "  from  the 
first  settlement  of  the  Province  to  this  day,  ever  had 
any  controversy  in  law  or  equity  with  the  people  of 
Newark."* 

The  early  settlers  of  Newark  were  eminently  a  law- 
loving  and  law-abiding  people.  When  they  arrived, 
no  laws  had  been  established  in  the  Province.  There- 
fore we  found  them  re-establishing,  for  a  temporary 
purpose,  those  which  had  been  in  force  in  the  old  col- 
ony, and  covenanting  one  with  another  to  submit 
cheerfully  to  the  authority  of  such  magistrates  as 
should  be  chosen  from  among  themselves.  It  was 
well  that  they  made  this  agreement,  for  in  the  stormy 
and  unsettled  times  which  ensued,  they  would  have 
been  left  almost  without  government  but  for  this 
voluntary  civil  compact,  on  which  they  found  occasion 
more  than  once  to  throw  themselves  back.f 

The  orders  for  the  two  years  following  emn  agreement  fo  submit  to  law  and  au- 

the  above  will  be  quoted  on  another  page:  thority  among  ourselves,  till  it  be  settled 

They  are   equally  strict.     After  that,  the  in  the  rrovince.     Its  record,  fol.  S."     [It 

Dutch  came  into  power,  and  the  Proprie-  is  recorded,  p.  3.]     Town  Kecords,  p.  32. 

tary  rights  were  suspended.  Another  instance  equally    noticeable  oc- 

*  Appendix  to  Bill  in  Chancery,  p.  36.  curs    March  25,  16S9-90,  a  few   months 

t  An  instance  of  this  sort  occurs  under  after  the  Deputy-Governor  "  Hamilton  left 

date  of  Jan.  2,  1G70-1,  during  the  period  East  Jersey  for  Europe,  in  August,  1689, 

in  which  Governor  Philip   Carteret  was  and  the  inhabitants  were  left  to  the  guar- 

struggling  vainly   to  govern   the  people  dianship  of  their  county  and  town  officers 

without  an  Assembly ;   Ihe  laws  enacted  from  that  time  until  1G92."     (Whitehead, 

in  1668  having  expired  by  limitation,  un-  p.  129.)     It  is  ?«  Mlows;  "It  is  voted  that 

less  they  had  been  formally  confirmed  by  there  shall  be  a  committee  chosen  toordcr 

the  Proprietors  in  England,  of  which  I  all  affairs  in  as  prudent  a  way  as  they  can, 

am  not  aware  that  there  is  any  evidence,  for  the  safety  and   preservation    of  our- 

The  record  is,  "  We  renew  all  of  our  sol-  selves,  wives,  children  and  estates,  accord- 


DISSATISFACTION   WITH    THE    GOVEENMENT.  •it 

But  tliougli  gifted  witli  more  than  an  ordinary  skill 
in  governing  tliemselves,  we  find  in  tlieir  proceedings, 
little  evidence  of  a  reluctance  to  submit  to  higher 
authority  when  legally  established.  It  has  been  al- 
leged indeed,  that  once,  in  the  year  1G72,  their  repre- 
sentatives united  with  those  of  other  towns  in  an 
illegal  General  Assembly,  which  deposed  the  Gover- 
nor, appointed  another  in  his  stead,  and  took  the  reins 
of  government  into  their  own  hands.*  It  may  be  so. 
Yet  I  must  crave  the  privilege  to.  doubt  whether  the 
true  spirit  of  that  transaction  has  been  fully  under- 
stood. The  reason  ordinarily  assigned  for  it  is  an  un- 
willingness on  the  part  of  the  •  people  to  pay  the  quit- 
rents.  But  it  is  capable  of  proof  that  no  such  motives 
could  have  actuated  the  people  of  Newark;  since, 
at  the  beginning  of  that  very  year,  the  town  distinctly 
recognized  the  obligation,  and  made  provision  for  the 
payment;  and  at  the  close  of  it,  in  view  of  the  ap- 
proaching pay-day,  gave  a  peremptory  order  that  the 
whole  should  be  seasonably  collected,  and  authorized 

ing  to  the  capacity  we  are  in.  Mr.  Ward,  Receiver  General,  and  others,  and  obliged 
Mr.  Johnson,  Azariah  Crane,  William  Governor  Carteret  to  fiy  to  England  to  corn- 
Cam  p,  Edward  Ball  and  John  Brown  are  plain  of  these  proceedings,"  &c.  "  They, 
chosen  to  join  with  those  in  military  ca-  with  the  inhabitants  of  sundry  other 
pacity."  Town  Records,  p.  114.  towns,  prevailed  on  James  Carteret,  a 
*  Bill  in  Chancery,  pp.  67,  68.  "Itap-  weak  and  dissolnte  youth,  son  of  Sir 
pears  that  in  the  year  1G72,  not  only  the  George  Carteret,  one  of  the  Proprietors, 
inhabitants  of  Elizabethtown,  but  also  to  assume  upon  him  the  actual  exercise 
those  of  Newark,  Woodbridge  and  Piscat-  of  the  government  of  New  Jersey,  as  by 
away  did,  contrary  to  the  very  agreements  their  election,  who  not  only  pretended 
upon  which  thoy  had  settled  and  were  ad-  that  title  to  the  government,  but  also  as 
mitted  inhabitants,  pretend  to  the  right  Proprietor  by  grant  of  his  father  to  him," 
both  of  soil  and  government,  by  Nichols' B  &c.  p.  85.  See  also  an  address  to  Berk- 
grant  aforesaid,  and  bj-  their  own  author-  ley  and  Carteret  by  the  Council  in  1672. 
ity  elected  James  Carteret,  son  of  Sir  E.  J.  Records.  Graham,  p.  466.  White- 
George  Carteret  as  their  President  and  ead,  pp.  55,  56. 
Governor,  imprisoned  the  Secretary  and 


48  ALLEGED    KESISTANCE. 

the  constal3le  to  distrain  for  the  amount  in  case  any 
persons  should  prove  themselves  delinquent  * 

Dissatisfaction  with  the  course  of  the  Proprietary- 
Government  we  often  find  in  them.  Probaljly  both 
they  and  the  neighboring  settlements  had  more  occa- 
sion for  it  than  can  now  be  proved.  Their  petitions 
for  redi'ess  of  grievances,  and  their  negociations  for 
the  security  of  what  they  deemed  their  just  rights  are 
to  be  seen  all  along  the  history  of  their  procedure. 
But  of  resistance  to  lawful  authority  m  its  lawful  exer- 
cise, I  find  no  satisfactory  evidence. 

As  the  transaction  in  question  may  be  thought  to 
affect  the  character  of  sOme  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
community  at  that  time,  I  may  be  justified  in  gi^'ing 
it  a  more  extended  consideration  than  would  otherwise 
be  suitable  to  an  ecclesiastical  narrative.  The  allega- 
tion referred  to,  it  must  be  observed,  rests  chiefly  on 
the  authority  of  the  Proprietary  party,  while  it  is  per- 
emptorily denied  by  their  opponents,f  and  it  is  agreed 
I  believe,  on  all  hands,  that  no  little  obscurity  hangs 
over  the  whole  matter. 

*  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  39,  41, 45.  must  distrain  for  it."  In  the  month  of 
Under  date  of  Nov.  14, 1671,  it  is  recorded  May  tollowiug,  the  disturbances  above  al- 
as follows :  "  Concerning  rates  it  was  luded  to  took  place.  Under  date  of  Jan. 
agreed  that  all  rates  that  shall  be  levied  31, 1672-3,  it  is  recorded  as  follows;  "It 
this  present  year,  (except  the  Lord  rent  and  was  agreed  and  voted  that  the  rate  for  the 
the  surveying  of  land)  should  be  made  half-penny  an  acreshaWhehvovt^imioihQ 

and  levied  by  persons,"  &c. — and  constable's  house,  by  the  third  day  of  Feb- 

concerning  the  Lords'  rent  and  surveying  of  ruary  next ;  and  in  case  it  be  not  brought 

lands,  the  charges  thereof  should  be  levied  in  by  or  on  that  day,  the  constable  shall 

by  lauds  only."    Further  on,  under  the  have  liberty  to  distrain  for  it,  and  those 

same  date,  we  find  the  following :  "  The  that  are  the  occasiou  of  it  shall  bear  all 

rates  made  for  the  town  were  read  and  the  charges  about  it." 
published ;  and  it  is  agreed,  that  every        t  See  Answer  to  the  Bill  in  Chancery, 

man  should  pay  in  his  proportion  to  the  pp.  24-5.     "  And  these  defendants  further 

treasurer,  between  this  and  the  10th  of  Feb-  answering  do  deny  that  they,  or  those  un- 

ruary  next,  or  else  the  constable  by  order  der  whom  they  claim,  did  ever  apply  to 


GENERAL   ASSEMBLY.  49 

Tlie  circumstances,  as  far  as  I  can  gather  tliem, 
seem  to  be  nearly  as  follows:  The  Concessions  had 
secured  to  the  people  the  privilege  of  an  annual  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  with  power  to  appoint  its  own  time 
and  place  of  meeting,  and  adjourn  its  sessions  from 
time  to  time,  "  as  they  should  think  convenient."*  But 
before  the  close  of  the  first  meeting,  the  Governor  and 
Council  came  into  collision  with  the  representatives, 
on  the  question  whether  the  two  branches  should  sit 
together  or  in  separate  chambers,f  a  question  not  set- 
tled in  the  terms  of  the  Concessions,  but  by  a  very 
natural  construction,  determinable  in  favor  of  the  peo- 
ple's views.  J  On  this  dispute  the  Assembly  was  broken 
uj),  with  an  implied  threat  on  the  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment, that  the  people  would  get  the  worst  of  the 
bargain.  And  so  it  proved.  For  the  Governor  and 
Council  seem  to  have  taken  the  resj^onsibility  after 
this,  of  governing  the  country  foi'  the  most  part  with- 
out a  General  Assembly.§     Meanwhile,  suspicions  were 

James  Carteret,  in  the  Bill  meutioned,  to  way  rather  to  break  up  our  meeting,  see- 
prevail  on  him  to  assume  the  powers  of  iug  the  order  of  the  Concessions  cannot  be 
government,  as  in  and  by  the  said  bill  of  attended  to."    Grants  and  Concessions,  p. 
complaint  is,  as  they  believe  most  untruly  90.    Whitehead,  p.  190. 
suggested."  J  The  requirement  that  the  Governor 

*  The  privilege  of  an  annual  General  should    preside  in  the  Assembly,  seems 

Assembly,  was  one  of  the  chief  safeguards  to  imply   that  there  was  to  be  but  one 

of  the  people's  rights,  and  probably  one  of  body.    So  does  the  manner  of  stating  the 

the  chief  inducements  for  the  settlers  to  required  quorum.     (Grants  and  Conces- 

remove  hither  from  New  England.    Its  sions,  p.  15.) 

first  session  was  held  fitteen  years  in  ad-  §  It  has  been  stated  that  no  Assembly 
vance  of  any  similar  body  in  New  York ;  met  after  this  for  seven  years.  This 
where  the  notions  of  the  Governor  re-  must  be  a  mistake.  Smith  states  (Hist, 
specting  taxation,  &c.,  are  a  sufficient  il-  New  Jersey,  pp.  G9,  70,)  that  an  extra- 
lustration  of  the  value  of  such  a  provision,  ordinary  Council  was  held  in  New  York 
(See  Bancroft,  vol.  ii,  p.  821,  1st  ed.)  in  Sept.  1671,  between  the  Governors  of 

+  The  representatives  complained  also  New  York  and  New  Jersey  and  others,  in 

that  the  Concessions  were  not  observed  relation  to  some  depredations  by  the  In- 

on  the  part  of  the  Governor  and  Council,  diaus,  in  which,  among  other  measures 

"And  therefore,"  say  they,  "we  think  our  for  chastising  the  offenders,  it  was  agreed 

4 


50  AKBITRAET    EULE. 

afloat  that  the  Governor  was  strengtliening  himself 
against  the  people,  by  secretly  accumulating  arms  in 
his  own  possession,  and  weakening  their  strength  by 
interfering  with  the  training  of  their  militia/^  There  is 
no  doubt  that  the  j)eople  feared  their  liberties  and 
rights  were  exposed  to  peril.  And  what  was  to  be 
done  ?  The  laws  enacted  in  1668  had  probably  ex- 
pired by  limitation ;  and  there  were  now  no  laws 
rightfully  established  in  the  Province.f  Meanwhile 
questions  of  exciting  interest  were  agitating  the  minds 
of  the  people  in  some  parts  of  the  Province,  and 
prompting  to  rebellion  and  violence.  The  Governor, 
struggling  to  maintain  authority  without  law,  was  re- 
sorting to  a  variety  of  expedients,  erecting  courts  by 
his  own  arbitrary  mandates,  or  what  is  the  same  in  ef- 
fect, extending  the  jurisdiction  of  existing  local  courts 
in  violation  of  the  express  provisions  of  the  Conces- 
sions.J  The  people  who  had  come  hither  and  em- 
barked their  dearest  interests  in  the  settlement  of  the 

"that  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey  and  from  Smith,  that  Sir  George's  dissolute 

Captain  James  Carteret   (then    present)  son  had  been  allowed  to  exercise   some 

should  expeditiously  order  a  General  As-  authority  in  the  Proprietary  Government 

sembly  to  be  called  in  that  Government  (ac-  before  the  people  drew  him  out  of  obscur- 

cording  to  their  custom  upon  all  emergent  ity  for  their  own  purposes, 

occasions)  to  know  the  people's  strength  *  Whitehead,  p.  57,  note.  E.  J.  Records, 

and   readiness,   and   how  fiir   they  were  t  The  Concessions,  in  giving  authority 

willing  to  contribute  towards  the  prosecu-  to  the  Assomby  to  enact  laws,  provided 

tion  of  a  war  against  the  Indians."    That  that  these  laws  should  "  be  enforced  for 

this  General  Assembly  was  actually  or-  the  space  of  one  year  and  no  more,"  with- 

dered,  appears  from  the  Newark  Town  Re-  out  a  formal  confirmation  by  the  Proprie- 

cords,  where,  under  date  of  Sept.  29, 1G71.I  tors.      Several  incidental  notices  in   the 

we  find  Jasper  Crane  and  Robert  Treat,  Newark  Town  Records,  indicate  that  those 

chosen  "  as  deputies  for  the  service  of  the  enacted  in  1G68  were  not  so  confirmed, 

Assembly,  to  meet  October  3d,  according  perhaps  not  presented  for  confirmation ; 

to  the  Governor's  warrant."    There  was  and  if  not,  there  wcj-e  at  this  time  no  laws 

also  an  Assembly  in  session  June  13th,  in  the  province,  except  such  local  laws  as 

1673.     (See  Bill  in  Chancery,  p.  7.)    N.  towns  might  be  authorized  to  enact. 

B.— It  would  seem,  from  the  above  extract  J  See  Whitehead,  p.  r>5 ;  also  East  Jer- 


MEASUEES    OF   SELF    PROTECTION.  51 

Province,  under  the  express  assurance  tliat  law  and 
order  should  be  maintained  on  the  principles  of  a  free 
Constitution,  saw  themselves  becoming  the  victims  of 
anarchy  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  a  power  to  whose 
progressive  encroachments  they  could  assign  no  limits 
on  the  other.  It  was  very  plain  that  the  time  had 
come  to  do  something,  as  the  people  of  •  Newark  very 
pertinently  expressed  the  case,  "  to  order  matters  for 
the  safety  of  the  country."*  » 

In  these  circumstances  two  courses  were  open  to 
them ;  the  one  was  to  petition  the  Proprietors  in  Eng- 
land ;  but  that  was  a  slow  j^rocess,  and  of  uncertain 
issue.  The  other  was  to  avail  themselves  of  the  first 
opportunity  to  restore,  in  some  legal  way,  that  best  of 
safeguards,  a  Legislative  Assembly.f 

sey  Reconls,  where  the  orders  given  to  chosen  on  this  occasion,  were  Robert 
extend  the  jurisdiction  of  the  courts  of  Treat  and  Jasper  Crane,  principals,  and 
Bergen  and  Woodbridge  are  to  be  found.  Samuel  Swaine,  'third  man.'  But  before 
Compare  Grants  and  Concessions,  p.  16,  the  meeting  took  place  Treat  was  pre- 
where  the  power  to  "  constitute  all  courts^  paring  to  return  to  Connecticut,  therefore 
together  with  the  limits,  powers,  and  ju-  Swaine  took  his  place, 
risdictions  of  the  same"  is  conferred  on  f  During  all  the  period  in  which  no  As- 
the  General  Assembly.  sembly  had  been  convened,  regularly  as 
*  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  43.  These  the  year  came  round,  Newark  had  her 
are  the  terms  of  the  commission  given  to  deputies  chosen,  principals  and  substi- 
the  representatives  from  Newark,  the  day  tutes,  so  that  wherever  else  the  fault  may 
before  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  at  have  been,  there  was  no  failure  on  her 
which  the  transactions  complained  of  took  part  in  carrying  out  this  fundamental  pro- 
place.  Prior  to  this,  January  22,  1671-2,  vision  of  the  Constitution.  There  is  no 
"  Mr.  Treat  and  Lieut.  Swaine  are  deputed  notice  in  the  Town  Records  of  an  appoint- 
to  take  the  first  opportunity  to  advise  with  ment  of  deputies  to  the  Assembly  of  1668, 
Mr.  Ogden,  (John  Ogden  of  Elizabeth-  but  we  learn  from  other  documents  that 
town,)  or  any  other  they  shall  see  cause,  the  town  was  represented  by  Robert 
what  may  be  the  safest  and  best  course  Treat  and  Samuel  Swaine  at  the  first 
to  be  taken  for  the  town,  about  our  lands  meeting  in  the  Spring,  and  by  Jasper 
and  settlements  here."  But  now,  "May  Crane  and  Robert  Treat  at  the  adjourned 
13,  1672,  Mr.  Crane  and  Lieut.  Swaine,  meeting  iu  November.  We  may  there- 
that  were  chosen  representatives  for  the  fore  assume  that  the  appointment  for  that 
town,  are  desired  by  the  town  to  consult  year  was  the  same  as  in  the  years  imme- 
with  the  rest  of  the  representatives  of  the  diately  subsequent,  and  shall  have  the 
country,  to  order  matters  for  the  safety  following  as  the  appointments  of  deputies 
of    the   country."      The    representatives 


52 


SPECIAL    GEISTEEAL   ASSEMBLY. 


They  chose  the  latter.  In  an  emergency  requiring 
supplies  to  be  furnished  by  the  people,  the  Governor 
was  induced  to  issue  writs  for  the  convening  of  a  spe- 
cial General  Assembly,  early  in  the  month  of  October, 
leYl.'^  At  this  Assembly,  Newark  took  care  to  be 
represented  by  two  of  her  best  men — Messrs.  Treat 
and  Crane — and  it  seems  probable  that  during 
its  sessions  the  Assembly  which  met  in  the  follow- 
ing Sj)ring  was  agreed  upon.  The  Governor  com- 
plained that  the  latter  body  was  convened  without 
writs  from  him;  and  moreover,  what  appears  to  be 
the  head  and  front  of  offending,  it  was  alleged  that  the 
representatives  had  before  "  taken  the  liberty  to  differ 
from  the  Governor  and  Council  in  establishing  matters 
for   the   settlement   of   the   people."f     Very   likely 


to  the  General  Assembly  during  the  first 
eight  years : 

1667-8. — Jasper  Crane,  Robert  Treat 
and  Samuel  Swaine,  as  third  man. 

1  Jan.,  1668-9.  "Mr.  Crane  and  Mr. 
Treat  are  chosen  deputies  or  burgesses 
for  the  General  Assembly  for  the  year  en- 
suing, and  Lieut.  Swaine  is  chosen  a  third 
man  in  case  of  either  of  the  others  fail- 
ing."    Town  Records,  p.  10. 

1  Jan.,  1669-70.  "Mr.  Crane  and  Mr. 
Treat  are  chosen  deputies  to  the  General 
Assembly,  if  there  shall  be  any."    p.  21. 

2  Jan.,  1670-1.  "  Mr.  Cranft  and  Mr. 
Treat  are  chosen  deputies  for  the  General 
Assembly,  and  Lieut.  Swaine  as  the  third 
man."    p.  32. 

29  Sept.,  1671.  "Mr.  Jasper  Crane  and 
Robert  Treat  are  again  chosen  deputies  in 
our  town  for  the  service  of  the  Assembly 
on  the  3d  Oct.,  ensuing  the  date,  accord- 
ing to  the  Governor's  warrant."    p.  88. 

1  Jan.,  1671-2.  "  Mr.  J.  Crane  and  Mr. 
Robert  Treat  are  chosen  deputies  for  the 
General  Assembly  for  the  year,  and  Sam- 
uel Swaine  is  chosen  the  third  man."  p. 
40. 


1  Jan.,  1672-3.  "Mr.  Crane  and  Mr. 
Bond  are  chosen  deputies  for  the  General 
Assembly,  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  Lieut. 
Swaine  the  third  man."    p.  45. 

The  Dutch  came  into  power  July  30th, 
1673.  Philip  Carteret  returned  and  re- 
sumed his  authority  Nov.  6,  1674. 

"Nov.  7,  1674.'  Mr.  Ward  and  Mr. 
Kitchel  are  chosen  as  deuputies  to  go  over 
to  Bergen  to  hear  what  the  Governor  hath 
to  say  according  to  his  warrant."    p.  53. 

Jan.  I,  1675-6.  "It  is  voted  that  the 
deputies  for  the  General  Assembly  in 
April  shall  be  chosen  by  vote  with  hands. 
Lieut.  Ward  and  Thomas  Johnson  are 
chosen  to  attend  to  that  business,  and 
Capt.  Samuel  Swaine  is  the  third  man." 
p.  50, 

*  See  note,  p.  49.  Smith's  Hist.  N.  J., 
p.  69,  70.  In  recording  the  appointment 
of  deputies,  Mr.  Recorder  Treat  took  care 
to  have  no  mistake  as  to  the  authority  by 
which  they  were  summoned  in  this  in- 
stance. Hence,  perhaps,  the  significance 
of  the  words:  "According  to  the  Governor's 
warrant.'" — p.  88. 
t  East  Jersey  Records. 


THE   PEOPLE    APPOIIST    AN   ASSEMBLY. 


53 


these  representatives,  being  most  of  them  New 
England  men,  had  taken  the  fimcy  that  popular  legis- 
lators have  the  right  to  differ  from  Governors  in  such 
matters  when  they  see  occasion ;  and  as  no  w^rits  had 
been  issued  for  a  long  time  pre^dous,  nor  were  likely 
to  be  in  time  to  come,  they  may  have  supposed  them- 
selves justified,  now  they  were  lawfully  together,  in 
appointing  time  and  place  for  another  meeting.*  How- 
ever that  may  be,  it  appears  that  they  did  meet,  both 
in  the  months  of  March  and  May  following,  though 
the  laws  which  they  enacted  at  the  former  date  are 
not  on  record,  the  Deputy  Secretary  having  run  away 
with  the  minutes.f 

And  now  what  were  the  transactions  ?  The  current 
account  is,  that  at  the  meeting  in  May,  the  people  de- 
posed the  rightful  Governor,  and  appointed  James 
Carteret  in  his  stead.  But  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
the  Governor  and  Council  themselves,  at  the  time, 
made  a  different  representation.     They  charged  the 


*  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  in  the 
abridgement  of  the  Assembly's  powers  by 
the  Proprietors,  consequent  on  the  trans- 
action in  question,  this  right  of  appointing 
time  and  place  for  its  own  meetings  was 
transferred  from  that  body  to  the  more 
friendly  hands  of  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil. The  instrument  by  which  this  was 
done,  is  entitled,  "  A  declaration  of  the 
true  intent  and  meaning  of  us,  the  Lords 
Proprietors,  and  explanation  of  their 
Concessions  made  to  the  Adventurers  and 
Planters  of  New  Ca^sarea  or  New  Jersey." 
The  terms  of  the  Concessions  were  as  fol- 
lows: "Which  Assembly  are  to  have 
power,  First,  to  appoint  their  own  time  of 
meeting,  and  to  adjourn  their  sessions 
from  time  to  time  to  such  places  as  they 
shall  think  convenient."  But  the  "  true 
intent  and  meaning"  of  these  terms  ac- 


cording to  the  "declaration,"  is  this:  "As 
to  the  General  Assembly,  that  it  shall  be 
in  the  power  of  the  Governor  and  his 
Council  to  appoint  the  times  and  places 
of  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
to  adjourn  and  summon  them  together 
again  when  and  where  he  and  tlicy  shall 
see  cause."  On  the  whole,  we  can  hardly 
regard  it  as  surprising,  tliat  before  the 
"  declaration"  was  promulgated,  the  peo- 
ple should  have  failed  to  divine  this  same 
"true  intent  and  meaning,"  and  that  mis- 
understandings and  collisions  should  have 
arisen  in  consequence,  even  in  the  most 
loyal  community.  (See  Grants  and  Con- 
cessions, pp.  15-33. ) 

+  East  Jersey  Records.  The  person  re- 
ferred to  above,  was  William  Pardon,  for 
whose  arrest  James  Carteret  issued  a  war- 
rant. May  25,  1672,  requiring  him  to  be 


54  PEESIDENT  APPOINTED. 

Assembly  with  appointing  James  Carteret,  not  as  their 
Governor,  but  as  their  President.  Now  such  an  officer 
the  Concessions  authorized  the  Assembly  to  appoint  in 
certain  contingencies,  and  the  right  to  do  so  contained 
an  important  safeguard  of  their  liberties.  That  in- 
strument provides  that  the  Governor  or  his  deputy  shall 
be  present  in  the  deliberations  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, "  unless  they  shall  wilfully  refuse,  in  which  case 
they  [the  Assembly]  may  appoint  themselves  a  Presi- 
dent during  the  absence  of  the  Governor  or  Deputy 
Governor."* 

Acts  of  apparent  violence  have  been  charged  on 
this  Assembly.  "  They  imprisoned,"  it  is  said,  "  some 
of  the  officers  of  the  Government,  and  confiscated  their 
estates."f  But  what  are  the  facts  ?  One  William 
Pardon,  recently  appointed  Deputy  Secretary  of  the 
Province,  was  arrested  on  a  writ  issued  in  his  Majesty's 
name,  probably  by  a  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  and  he 
having  twice  escaped  from  the  constable,  other  writs 

kept  in  custody  "  till  he  deliver  \ip  the  a  fly  leaf  of  the  Newark  Town    Records, 

acts  of  laws  made  by  the  General  Assem-  However,  the  Proprietors  rewarded  him 

bly  at  their  sitting  the  261h  of  March  last,  for  the  use  they  made  of  him,  by  a  grant 

the  which  laws  the  said  William  Pardon  of  five  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  the  of- 

now  refuseth  to  deliver."    On  the  25th  of  fice  of  Receiver  General,  after  his  return 

June  following.  Pardon  having  twice  cs-  from  England.     (See  Whitehead,  p.   56, 

caped  from   the  constable,   John   Ogden  note. 

gave  an  order  for  the  attachment  of  his  *  Grants  and  Concessions,  p.  15.  The 
goods,  speaking  of  the  laws  in  question,  constitution  of  Connecticut,  besides  con- 
as  "committed  to  the  said  Pardon,  to  take  taining  a  similar  provision,  empowered 
a  copy  of  them  by  order  of  the  General  the  people  to  call  a  General  Assembly 
Assembly,  which  he  hath  neglected  and  through  the  constable,  if  the  Governor 
refuseth  to  do,  and  also  to  dcHver  up  the  and  magistrates  should  refuse  to  doit.  See 
said  laws  unto  the  Assembly  at  the  next  Trumbull,  Hist.  Conn.,  p.  102.  Had  the 
sitting,  by  whom  they  were  demanded.''  Concessions  contained  this  latter  provis- 
East  Jersey  Records.  This  William  Par-  ion,  the  people  of  Newark,  it  is  presumed, 
don  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  various  would  not  have  regularly  appointed  their 
troubles,  domestic  as  well  as  civil,  if  we  representatives  three  years  in  succession 
may  judge  from  his  valorous  proclamation  for  nothing, 
against  his  disloyal  wife,  still  extant  on  t  Bill  in  Chancery,  pp.  35,  68. 


CHANGE   OF    GOVEENMENT. 


55 


were  issued,  on  similar  authority,  for  the  attachment  and 
detention  of  his  pro2)erty.  But  what  was  the  object? 
Why,  simply  to  recover  possession,  for  the  Assembly, 
of  their  own  records,  which  that  functionary  had  ab- 
stracted and  refused  to  surrender.  The  papers  are  ex- 
tant, and  can  tell  their  own  story.* 

What  other  acts  of  alleged  violence  or  usurped  au- 
thority may  have  been  committed,  I  know  not.  No 
others  are  specified.  The  Governor  left  the  country 
and  went  to  England  shortly  after,  by  advice  of  his 
Council,  to  complain  to  the  Proprietors  ;  and  James 
Carteret  may  have  been,  as  some  histories  represent  the 
case,  thereupon  acknowledged  as  Governor.f  But  his 
proceedings,  as  the  Council  at  the  time  state  explicit- 
ly, were  not  based  simply  on  the  authority  conferred 
upon  him  by  the  people.  He  acted  under  a  pretended 
grant  from  his  father.  Sir  George  Carteret,  and  right 
as  Proprietor,  which  empowered  him  to  remove  the 
Governor  at  his  own  pleasure. J 


*  John  Ogden,  who  issued  the  warrant 
for  attaching  his  goods  was,  or  had  hcen  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  it  is  not  unnatural 
to  suppose  Capt.  James  Carteret  might 
have  had  a  similar  commission.  The  con- 
stable to  whom  the  warrant  was  issued, 
was  William  Meeker,  of  Elizabethtown, 
whom  the  people  indemnified  for  his  losses 
several  j'ears  afterwards.  Newark  Town 
Records,  p.  02. 

t  Grahame  says,  p.  4G6,  "He,"  i.e. 
Philip  Carteret,  "  was  compelled  to  return 
to  England,  stripped  of  his  functions, 
which  the  Colonists  forthwith  conferred 
on  a  natural  son  of  Sir  George  Carteret, 
November  1072,  by  whom  their  preten- 
sions were  abetted."  Chalmers  makes  a 
similar  statement,  p.  610.  In  the  New- 
ark Town  Records,  under  date  of  Novem- 


ber 14,  1672,  we  find  the  following  min- 
ute :  "  There  was  a  full  vote,  passed  Au- 
gust 10,  1672,  that  is  not  here  recorded, 
but  it  is  recorded  fol.  36."  Three  or  four 
years  later,  when  after  a  temporary  sus- 
pension of  its  power  by  the  Dutch  con- 
quest, the  Proprietary  Government  was 
restored  with  increased  authority,  it  was 
deemed  expedient  to  subject  this  vote  to 
the  expunging  process,  and  we  find  under 
date  of  Feb.  25, 1675-0,  the  following:  "It 
is  voted,  that  the  vote  which  was  passed 
the  10th  of  August,  1072,  and  recorded  in 
fol.  36,  concerning  the  government,  shall 
be  obliterated  by  the  clerk." 

X  "  All  these  proceedings  he  carried  on 
with  pretence  that  he  hath  power  suffi- 
cient, he  being  Sir  George  Carteret's  sod, 
that  he  is  a  Proprietor,  and  can  put  out 


56  PETITION   FOR  EEDEESS    OF   GEIEVANCES. 

No  doubt  a  change  of  Government  was  for  a  time  ef- 
fected, and  possibly  the  pretence  which  this  unworthy, 
but  privileged  personage,  set  up,  that  he  had  private 
authority  from  the  superior  powers — a  pretence  which 
must  have  gained  some  color  from  the  fact  that  he  had 
before  been  allowed  to  exercise  a  kind  of  joint  author- 
ity with  his  uncle,  Philip  Carteret,*  was  yielded  to  by 
the  people  more  readily  than  it  would  have  been  un- 
der less  pressing  circumstances.  Certain  it  is  that  the 
people  did  not  consider  themselves  as  disowning  the 
authority  of  the  Proprietors,  since  they  proceeded  im- 
mediately to  make  their  appeal  to  them  in  a  petition 
for  redress  of  grievances. 

"What  their  own  statement  of  these  grievances  was 
we  do  not  know.  Their  opponents  were  on  the 
ground,  and  had  the  ear  both  of  the  Proprietors 
and  of  the  King,  while  they  could  only  speak 
from  a  distance.  The  Proprietors,  in  their  reply, 
literally  scolded  them  like  naughty  children,  and  seized 
the  iirst  opportunity  to  abridge  their  privileges.  But 
had  we  before  us  their  own  statements,  we  should 
doubtless  see  even  more  clearly  than  we  can  at  pres- 
ent, that  there  were  at  least  two  sides  to  the  question.f 

the  Governor  as  he  pleases."    (Extract  care  we  have   of  your  pretended  griev- 

from  the  Address  to  Berkley  and  Carteret  ances  and  complaints  have  examined  some 

by  the  Council.    East  Jersey  Eecords.)  particulars  thereof,  the  Governor  and  Mr. 

*  See  note,  p.  49.      Also  Smith's  Hist.  Bollen  being  now  in  town ;  yet  we  are 

New  Jersey,  p.  70.  ready  to  do  you  all  the  justice  you  can  ex- 

t  The  words  of  the  reply  are  as  follows:  pect,  though  you  have  been  unjust  to  us. 

Grant  and  Concessions,  p.  40.  by  which  means  you  have  brought  a  trou- 

"To  the  pretended  representatives  of  ble  upon  yourselves ;  and  if  you  will  send 

Elizabethtown,  Newark  and  New  Piscata-  over  any  person  to  make  good  your  alle- 

way,  and  all  others  whom  it  may  concern :  gations  in  your  petition,  (while  the  Gov- 

"  We  have  received  a  long  petition  from  eruor  is  here,)  we  shall  be  ready  to  hear 

you  and  of  no  date,  yet  out  of  a  tender  all  parties  and  incline  to  do  you  right,  al- 


DEFENCE   OF   EIGHTS   NOT   INSUEEECTION.  5T 

One  tiling  at  least  is  certain,  and  capable  of  proof. 
The  fathers  of  Newark,  in  the  transactions  referred  to, 
were  no  band  of  lawless  anti-renters,  seeking  to  de- 
fraud the  legal  proprietors  by  setting  up  titles  to  the 
soil,  adverse  to  theirs.  It  was  not  Indian  purchases,  it 
was  not  Nichols'  grants,  it  was  not  re23ugnance  to  quit- 
rents  which,  on  their  part,  formed  the  occasion  for  dis- 
turbances, which  have  been  too  incautiously  set  down 
in  history  as  insurrection.  It  was  a  contest  for  liber- 
ties, for  solemnly  guarantied  rights.  Some  portion  of 
the  blood  of  1776  was  creeping  quietly  in  the  ancestral 
veins  of  these  worthy  men.  And,  if  it  be  true  that 
Robert  Treat,  Jasper  Crane,  Samuel  Swaine  and  their 
associates,  did  in  any  respect  transcend  the  forms  of 
law,  as,  however,  has  not  been  proved,  we  may  be  sure 
that  they  did  it  not  without  good  reason,  and  because 
what  they  believed  to  be  their  sacred  rights,  seemed 
in  imminent  peril.* 

though  you  hare  not  had  such  a  tender  Gawen  Lawrie,  the  first  Governor  ap- 
regard  of  our  concerns  in  those  parts  as  pointed  under  the  twenty-four  Proprie- 
in  justice  you  ought  to  have  had ;  and  we  tors  who  purchased  the  Province  a  few 
do  likewise  expect  for  the  future  you  will  years  later,  gave  this  testimony  to  the 
yield  due  obedience  to  our  government  character  of  the  settlers  of  East  Jersey, 
and  laws  within  the  province  of  New  Ca;-  "  The  people  are  generally  a  sober,  pro- 
sarea  or  New  Jersey,  and  then  we  shall  fessing  people,  wise  in  their  generation, 
not  be  wanting  to  manifest  ourselves  ac-  courteous  in  their  behaviour,  and  respect- 
cording  to  your  deportment.  Dated  this  ful  to  us  in  office."  On  which  Grahame, 
11th  day  of  December,  1672."  who  had  probably  formed  his  judgment 
*  It  may  be  that  a  more  full  investiga-  chiefly  from  the  representations  of  the 
tion  would  put  a  different  complexion  Proprietary  party,  remarks  very  justly, 
upon  some  features  of  the  case  from  that  "If  we  might  rely  implicitly  on  the  opin- 
which  I  have  given  them  in  the  text ;  but  ion  of  this  observer,  we  should  impute 
from  a  careful  comparison  of  all  the  docu-  the  dissensions  that  bad  previously  oc- 
ments  and  statements  of  historians  within  curred  in  the  Province,  to  the  folly  and 
my  reach,  especially  the  Newark  Town  mismanagement  of  Carteret  and  his  asso- 
Records,  the  impression  has  been  strong-  ciates  in  the  government."  p.  481.  Could 
ly  made  upon  my  mind,  that  the  people  this  candid  historian  have  seen  the  rec- 
were  far  less  censurable  in  those  dis-  ords  of  the  people  in  their  local  communi- 
orderly  transactions    than    their   rulers,  ties,  at  least  in  this  community,  he  would 


58  DUTCH   CONQUEST. 

Nor  did  they  stop  here.  Still  confident  in  the  justice 
of  their  cau^^e,  and  notwithstanding  the  reception  their 
petition  had  met  with,  the  men  of  Newark  made  another 
attempt  to  obtain  justice  at  the  hands  of  the  Proprie- 
tors.'^' From  the  Newark  Town  Kecords  it  appears  that 
a  second  petition  for  redress  was  ordered  to  be  sent 
to  England  in  the  month  of  July,  1673,  and  five  prin- 
cipal men  of  the  town  were  appointed  to  consult  with 
messengers  from  other  towns  in  preparing  and  sending 
it.  But  meanwhile,  the  difficulties  still  remaining  un- 
settled, and  war  between  England  and  Holland  having 
broken  out,  the  Dutch  took  armed  possession  of  the 
Province,  and  the  Proprietary  Government  was  dis- 
placed. Nor  can  we  wonder  much,  considering  the  cir- 
cumstances, that  smarting  as  they  were  with  their  sup- 
posed grievances,  the  colonists  should  have  made  some 
haste  in  trying  what  might  be  hoped  for  from  their 
new  masters.  It  appears  by  the  record,  that  but  five 
days  had  elapsed  after  the  surrender  of  New  York,  be- 
fore the  people  of  Newark  ordered  a  petition  for  privi- 
leges to  be  sent  to  the  "  Generals  at  New  Orange ;"  and 
again,  ten  months  later,  that  they  petitioned  the  same  au- 
thorities "for  the  obtaining  a  confirmation  of  our  bought 
and  paid  for  lands."  But  peace  returned ;  the  Pro- 
prietary Government  was  restored  with  new  powers ; 
the  Concessions,  qualified  l)y  a  so-called  "  declaration 

have  seen  less  occasion  than  he  supposed  f  er  a  little  fire  kindleth,  and  being  desi- 

for  qualifying  that  inference  with  an  if.  reus,  and  also  sensible  that  it  is  the  duty 

*  Deputy  Governor  Berry  seems  about  as  well  to  endeavor  peace  and  friendship 

this  time  to  have  had  some  doubts  con-  among  the   neighbors,  as   to  administer 

cerning  the  wisdom  of  the  course  pursued  juslice."      I'roclamation    forbidding    re- 

by  the  government ;  "  having  had  sad  ex-  proachful  words,  &c.    E.  J.  Records, 
pericuce,"  as  he  said,  "  how  great  a  mat- 


AUTHORITY    UNCERTAIN. 


59 


of  their  true  intent  and  meaning,"  wliicli  greatly  abridg- 
ed the  privileges  conferred  by  them,  were  rigidly  en- 
forced ;  the  "  Articles"  seem  to  have  become  a  nullity, 
and  the  people  had  no  choice  but  to  submit  to  uncon- 
trollable circumstances.*  They  did  submit  ;  and  the 
leading  men  of  this  town  at  least,  took  patents  for 
their  lands,  after  some  attempts  at  negotiation,  on  the 
terms  prescribed.f 

The  position  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  Province, 
as  loyal  men,  was  attended  with  no  little  embarrass- 
ment. Amidst  the  doubtful  and  sometimes  conflicting 
claims  of  their  superiors,  it  was  often  difficult  to  deter- 
mine whose  was  the  rightful  authority.  J  The  Duke  of 
York,  who  had  released  the  soil  and  government  to 


*  As  ihe  original  Concessions  reserved 
no  right  of  alterations,  at  least  so  far  as 
such  alterations  might  prejudice  the  rights 
of  those  who  should  have  settled  before 
they  were  made;  the  people,  as  might 
have  been  supposed,  submitted  very  re- 
luctantly to  a  long  bill  of  professed  "ex- 
planations," which  took  away  some  of  the 
best  privileges  expressly  insured  to 
them.  They  pronounced  the  "  Declaration 
of  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the 
Lords  Proprietors,  and  explanation  of  the 
Concessions"  to  be  "a  breach  of  the  Con- 
cessions." The  two,  they  say,  are  "con- 
tradictory one  with  the  other."  See  a 
synopsis  of  a  correspondence  between  the 
representatives  and  the  Council  in  1681, 
which  ended  in  the  Governor's  dissolving 
the  Assembly.  Whitehead,  p.  193.  The 
candid  reader,  I  think,  will  readily  come 
to  the  same  conclusion  with  the  represen- 
tatives. Nor  is  it  strange  that  seeds  o' 
discontent  thus  sown,  ripened  at  length 
into  such  power,  that  the  Proprietors 
were  obliged  to  relinquish  into  other  hands 
the  reins  of  government.    Alas !  avarice, 


that  once  paid  its  court  to  freedom,  and 
seemed  so  graceful  in  it,  began,  now  that 
its  first  ends  were  gained,  and  the  waste 
lands  settled,  to  deem  a  little  tyranny 
more  suitable  to  its  ulterior  designs  ! 

t  Tokens  of  their  reluctance  are  very 
manifest  in  the  Town  Records.  At  first 
they  replied  to  the  summons  from  the 
Governor,  that  "  they  see  not  their  way 
clear  to  patent  on  the  terms  proposed;' 
then,  in  order  that  their  rights  might  bs 
satisfactorily  set  forth,  a  committee  of 
three  principal  men  were  sent  to  Eliza- 
bethtown  with  a  statement  and  petition  ; 
in  preparing  which,  the  services  of  both 
the  ministers  were  put  in  requisition. 
Town  Records,  pp.  54-0. 

X  An  amusing  instance  of  this  uncer- 
tainty appears  on  the  Town  Records,  un- 
der date  of  July  2Slh,  1609,  viz.:  "The 
town  made  choice  of  Mr.  Crane  and  Mr. 
Treat  to  take  the  first  opportunity  to  go 
over  to  York  to  advise  with  Col.  Lovelace 
concerning  our  standing,  whether  we  are 
designed  to  be  a  part  of  the  Duke's  Colony 
or  no  "    p.  19. 


60  USUEPATION   OF   ANDROS. 

Berkley  and  Carteret,  seems  to  liave  meditated  for  a 
long  time  tlie  recovery  of  both.  At  least,  tlie  right  of 
government  on  their  part  was  on  some  occasions  vio- 
lently contested  by  his  officers.  When,  in  the  year 
1679,  Sir  Edmond  Andros,  relpng,  it  is  supposed,  on 
the  co-operation  of  a  party  disaffected  towards  the  Pro- 
prietary title,  undertook  to  seize  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment in  the  name  of  the  Duke,  and  with  that  purpose 
"issued  a  proclamation  abrogating  the  government 
of  Carteret,  and  requiring  all  persons  to  submit  forth- 
with to  the  King's  authority  as  embodied  in  himself,"* 
the  sj^irited  answer  of  the  men  of  Newark  shows 
that  they,  at  least  in  this  instance,  were  not  wanting  in 
fidelity  to  the  existing  authorities.  It  is  on  record 
that  "  the  town  being  met  together,  give  their  positive 
answer  to  the  Governor  of  York's  writ,  that  they  have 
taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King  and  fidelity 
to  the  present  Government,  and  until  we  have  sufficient 
order  from  his  Majesty,  we  will  stand  by  the  same."f 
But  scarcely  had  they  made  this  demonstration,  be- 
fore Governor  Carteret,  yielding  to  violence,  had  by 
his  own  act  demitted  his  authority,  and  "  the  powers 
that  be"  were  for  the  present  no  longer  the  same. J  In 
all  these  difficulties,  candor  obliges  us  to  confess,  the 
fathers  of  Newark  conducted  themselves  with  rare 
wisdom  and  uprightness. 

Equally  just  and  liberal  were  their  transactions  with 
the  savage  aborigines.     The  testimony  of  an  aged  In- 

*  Whitehead,  p.  72.  iiiitted   to    Andros,   till    contrary  orders 

+  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  78.  came  from  England.    See  Answer  to  Bill 

X  Whitehead,   p.  74.      It  appears  that  iu  Chancery,  p.  11. 
after  this,  the  people  of  the  Province  sub- 


TREATMENT   OF   THE   INDIANS.  61 

dian,  given  in  the  year  1832,  concerning  the  people  of 
the  State  generally,  belongs  in  an  eminent  degree  to 
theii'  puiitan  fathers  in  this  settlement.  "  Not  a  drop 
of  our  blood  have  you  spilled  in  battle — not  an  acre 
of  our  land  have  you  taken  but  by  our  consent."* 
Taught  by  their  experience  of  former  perils,  they  pre- 
pared themselves  for  defence,  and  took  especial  care  to 
guard  against  surprises ;  but  taught  also  by  the  same 
ex]_3erience  to  understand  the  Indian  character  better 
than  it  was  understood  in  New  England  at  an  earlier 
day,  they  succeeded  by  their  fair  and  kind  treatment  in 
avoiding  all  occasion  for  violence. 

The  settlers  of  Newark  were  an  eminently  indus- 
trious,f  enterprising,  public-spiiited  race ;  fii'm,  without 
bigotry ;  gentle  and  affectionate,  without  weakness ; 
VERY  KIND  AND  LOVING  PEOPLE,  as  the  jilaiu  Scotch- 

*  See  Field's  Provincial  Courts,  p.  5,  his  encourapremeut  to  settle  in  the  town 
note.  Grahame,  p.  465,  attributes  the  and  follow  his  trade."— Records,  pp.  26, 
purchasing  of  all  the  lands  to  be  occupied  30.  In  1673-4  it  was  "agreed  that  the 
by  the  inhabitants  from  the  aboriginal  weavers,  Thomas  Pierson  and  Benjamin 
claimants,  to  the  prudence  and  equity  of  Baldwin  should  be  considered  by  the  sur- 
Philip  Carteret,  to  which  the  Proprietors  veyors."  So  in  1680,  Samuel  Whitehead 
acceded.  But  it  was  certainly  no  sugge.';-  was  permitted  to  become  a  settler  on  con- 
tion  of  Philip  Carteret  that  led  to  the  pur-  dition  of  "his  supplying  the  town  with 
chase  of  the  Newark  tract,  for  he  abso-  shoes."  Among  the  reservations  of  land 
lutely  refused  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  at  the  beginning,  there  was  a  miller's  lot, 
the  matter.  Indeed,  the  Elizabethtown  a  tailor's  lot,  a  boatman  and  a  seaman's 
tract  was  purchased  in  like  manner,  be-  lot.  Kockwell,  the  boatman,  was  admit- 
fore  the  Proprietors  came  into  possession,  ted  to  town  privileges  in  March,  1663, 
It  was  the  Puritans  who  first  adopted  the  upon  condition  "  that  he  doth  this  very 
equitable  rule.  Grahame  probably  refers  spring  season  come  and  settle  here  in  our 
to  a  rule  subsequently  adopted,  the  object  town,  and  maintain  this  or  such  like 
of  which  was  to  prevent  any  but  the  Pro-  sufficient  boat  for  the  use  of  the  town,  or 
prietors  from  purchasing,  and  thereby  particular  persons  in  the  town,  on  [such] 
laying  claim  to  a  legal  title  irrespective  considerations  for  his  boat  as  he  or  they 
of  them.  [shall]  agree,  so  long  as  the  Lord  shall 

t  The  encouragement  which  they  gave  enable  him  therefor."    Shortly  after,  Az- 

to  manufactures  has  often  been  remarked  ariah  Beech  was  admitted  on  similar  con- 

upon.    In  166'J,  and  again  in  1670,  Jona-  ditions.    Town  Records,  pp.  15,  17. 
than  Sargeant  had  lands  granted  him  "for 


62  THE    CHUECH    CONGREGATIONAL. 

man's  observation  taught  liim  to  regard  the  Puritan 
race  generally  in  East  Jersey ;  and  yet  bold  defenders 
of  their  rights.  The  same  promptness,  energy  and 
good  management  marks  their  entire  procedure,  and 
the  same  fidelity  to  all  the  claims  of  justice,  and 
religion.  The  men  who,  in  conjunction  with  their 
worthy  pastor,  laid  the  foundations  of  this  ancient 
Church,  have  shown  by  all  the  traces  of  them  which 
remain,  that  they  were  men  who  united  strong  practi- 
cal common  sense  with  the  purest  morals  and  devoted 
piety. 

■--  But  it  js  time  for  us  to  pass  to  matters  more  strictly 
ecclesiastical.  The  Church,  organized  as  we  have  seen 
in  Branford,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1644,  and  transferred 
to  Newark  in  1667,  was  unquestionably  at  this  period 
settled  in  the  Congregational  order,  and  that  of  the 
most  primitive  and  distinguishing  type.  The  ministers 
of  New  Haven  Colony,  who  were  present  at  the 
framing  of  the  Cambridge  Platform,  adhered  to  that 
foundation,  and  were  averse  to  any  material  deviation 
from  its  provisions.  "What  were  the  methods  of  public 
worship  and  religious  instruction  pursued  in  Newark, 
besides  the  regular  services  of  the  Sabbath  and  a 
stated  lecture,  we  are  not  informed.  Had  we  their  rec- 
ords, we  should  doubtless  learn  that,  as  in  the  Church- 
es of  the  mother  Colony,  the  people  "  were  strict  in 
their  admission  of  members  to  full  communion,"  and 
"  those  who  were  admitted  generally  made  a  public  re- 
lation of  their  Christian  experiences,  by  which  they 
gave  satisfaction  to  the  Church  of  their  repentance. 


HOUSE    OF   WOKSHIP  ERECTED.  63 

faith,  and  sincere  friendsliip  to  the  Kedeemer."*  It 
was  their  pur230se  to  apj^oint  a  ruling  elder,  and  with 
that  view  a  lot  of  ground  was  set  apart  for  his  use. 
But  as  we  find  no  other  traces  of  such  an  officer,  and 
the  land  after  a  few  years  was  granted  piece  by  piece 
to  other  settlers,  it  is  probable  that  that  feature  of  an- 
cient Congregationalism  was  never  adopted  in  New- 
ark.f 

The  first  movement  towards  ;the  erection  of  a 
house  of  worship  was  made  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1668,  when  the  town  voted  to  "  build  a  meeting-house, 
as  soon  as  may  be  ;"  and,  "  for  the  better  carrying  it  to 
an  end,"  made  choice  of  five  men,  namely.  Deacon 
Ward,  Sergeant  Harrison  and  his  son  John,  Sergeant 
Edward  Riggs  and  Michael  Tompkms,  "with  full 
power  for  the  management  of  the  building,"  promising 
"  to  lend  them  their  best  help  according  to  their  pro- 
portions," whenever  due  warning  should  be  given,  and 
requiring  each  man  to  work  at  least  two  days,  if  called 
out,  or  give  satisfactory  reason  to  the  contrary.  Pres- 
ently after  this,  a  bargain  was  made  with  three  of  the 
men — Deacon  Ward,  Sergeant  Harrison  and  Sergeant 
Riggs — to  build  the  house  for  a  certain  sum,  and  build 
it  soon  and  well,  "  with  some  abatement  in  the  price  if 

*  Trunabull,  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  i,  p,  313.  vol.  i,  p.  2S3.     "  This  power  of  govern- 

t  "  The  business  of  the  ruling  elder  was  ment  in  the  elders,"  says  the  Cambridge 

to  assist  the  pastor  in  the  government  of  Platform,  "  doth  not  in  any  wise  prejudice 

the    Church.      He   was    particularly  set  the  power  of  privilege  in  the  brotherhood; 

apart  to  watch  over  all  its  members,  to  as  neither  the  power  of  privilege  in  the 

prepare  and  bring  forward  all  cases   of  brethren  doth  prejudice  the  power  of  gov- 

discipline,  to  visit  and  pray  with  the  sick,  ernment  in  the  elders;  hut  they  may  sweei- 

and  in  the    absence  of  the   pastor  and  Ij  agree  togtther.'"    "No  Church  act  can 

teacher,  to    pray  with  the  congregation  be    consummated    without     consent     of 

and  expound  the  Scriptures."    Trumbull,  both." 


64  ASSISTANT  PASTOR. 

they  can  afford  it."  The  building  was  to  be  of  very 
humble  dimensions,  36  feet  in  length,  26  in  breadth, 
and  13  feet  between  the  joints,  "  with  a  lenter  to  it  all 
the  length,  which  will  make  it  36  feet  square."  *  By 
the  12th  of  March  following,  the  timber  was  cut  and 
hewn  and  the  frame  of  the  house  ready  to  be  raised ; 
and  Thomas  Luddington  and  Thomas  Johnson  were 
contracted  with,  for  five  pounds,  to  accomplish  that 
part  of  the  work,  with  the  town's  help.  Then  a  supply 
of  nails  must  l)e  provided  "  for  the  closing  in  of  the 
meeting  house,"  and  this  they  determined  to  do  by 
joint  contributions,  each  man  being  required  to  say 
how  many  he  would  undertake  to  furnish.  The  whole 
business  was  now  put  into  the  hands  of  the  "  towns- 
men ;"  but  it  was  not  till  more  than  a  year  and  a  half 
later,  that  the  house  was  ready  to  receive  a  permanent 
floor,  and  even  then  it  seems  to  have  been  but  partially 
completed.f 

Meanwhile,  the  venerable  pastor  was  becoming  ad- 
vanced in  years,  and  his  eldest  son,  a  young  man  of 
great  j^romise,  having  finished  his  studies  in  College, 

*  That  every  one  may  form  his  own  and  be  sure  of  the  punctuation  in  this  ex- 
notion  of  the  shape  of  this  primitive  edi-  tract,  it  might  be  easy  to  describe  the 
fice,  I  transcribe  the  following  from  the  form  of  the  house  very  exactly.  As  it  is, 
Town  Record:  "Item.  The  town  hath  much  must  be  left  to  conjecture,  p.  10. 
bargained  with  Deacon  Ward,  Sergeant  t  The  flooring  was  to  be  done  in  a  very 
Richard  Harrison  and  Sergeant  Edward  substantial  manner.  "The  town  agreed 
Riggs,  for  the  sum  of  seventeen  pounds,  to  with  Thomas  Johnson  about  his  flooring 
build  the  same  meeting  house  according  half  the  meeting  house  for  four  pounds; 
to  the  dimensions  agreed  upon,  (/.  c.  those  of  good  chestnut  or  oak,  of  two  inches  and 
already  stated,)  with  a  lenter  to  it  all  the  a-half  plank,  and  they  are  to  find  and  do 
length,  which  will  make  it  thirty-six  foot  all,  to  edge  and  lay  down  the  floor  on 
square  with  the  doors  and  windows  and  seven  good  sleepers;  and  in  like  manner 
flue  boards  on  the  gable  ends."  Could  they  have  bargained  with  John  Brown, 
we  ascertain  the  precise  angle  of  the  root,  Mr.  Burwell,  John  Baldwin  and  Joseph 
determine  what  are  meant  by  flue  boards,  Riggs,  to  do  the  other  half."    Records, 

p.  82. 


ASSISTANT   PASTOE  65 

and  begun  to  preacli,  had  been  solicited  unanimously 
by  the  people  of  Woodbridge  to  become  their  minis- 
ter *  Unwilling  to  lose  the  services  of  so  desirable  an 
assistant,  the  town,  immediately  upon  this,  "  by  their 
unanimous  vote  declared  their  freeness  to  desire  and 
call  Mr.  Abraham  Pierson,  junior,  to  be  helpful  to  his 
father,  m  the  exercise  of  his  gifts  in  the  ministry,  for 
the  space  of  a  year ;"  and,  for  his  encouragement,  al- 
lowed him  for  the  year  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds. 
This  was  done  on  the  28th  of  July,  1669  ;  and  the  re- 
sult was,  that  the  proposals  from  Woodbridge  were 
not  accepted,  and  Mr.  Pierson  continued  to  assist  his 
father,  on  the  terms  specified,  a  little  more  than  two 
years.  On  the  14th  of  November,  1671,  ten  pounds 
were  added  to  his  salary  and  lands  allotted  to  him  "  on 
condition  that  he  settles  and  abides  with  us  a  consider- 
able time,  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  ministry."     But 

*  By  the  favor  of  Wm.  A.  Whitehead,  forded  by  the  constable,  John  Smith.   The 

Esq.,  author  of  the  "History  of  New  Jersey  application  to  Mr.  Pierson  was  not,  how- 

under  the  Proprietors,"  I  am  permitted  to  ever,  favorably  considered  by  him.    The 

insert  the  following  extract  from  "  Contri-  advanced  age  of  his  father,  who  was  the 

butions^to  the  Early  History  of  Perth  Am-  pastor  of  the  Newark  congregation,  ren- 

boy  and  the  Surrounding  Country,"  yet  in  dered  the  services  of  an  assistant  neces- 

manuscript,  referring  to  Mr.  Pierson :  sary,  and  measures  were  in  progress  to 

"  The  first  movement  towards  obtaining  secure  the  son  in  that  capacity.  The  ap- 
the  services  of  a  clergyman  [in  Wood-  plication  from  Woodbridge  probably 
bridge]  was  on  the  8th  June,  1669,  when  brought  the  matter  to  a  conclusion,  as  the 
a  Committee  was  appointed  to  go  to  New-  ensuing  month  Mr.  Pierson  was  regularly 
ark,  as  messengers  from  the  town,  to  de-  employed  as  an  assistant  minister." 
clare  to  Mr.  Pierson,  junior,  that  the  in-  The  settlement  at  Woodbridge  was  one 
habitants  were  all  willing  and  desirous  of  the  very  oldest,  and  should  have  been 
that  he  would  be  pleased  to  come  up  to  mentioned  on  p.  22,  in  connection  with 
them  and  help  them  in  the  work  of  the  other  towns  of  nearly  the  same  date.  Men 
ministry;  and  anticipating  an  acceptance,  from  Newbury, Mass.,  purchased  the  tract 
Robert  Dennis  was  appointed  to  enter-  on  the  lllh  of  December,  1666,  (See  Bill 
tain  him  with  "meat,  drink  and  lodging,"  in  Chancery,  p.  121.  Answer  to  Bill  in 
and  when  on  the  west  side  of  the  Creek —  Chancery,  p.  37,)  and  gave  it  the  name  of 
called  in  the  records  Papiack  Creek —  their  junior  minister.  Rev.  John  Wood- 
similar  accommodations  were  to  be  af-  bridge,  a  lineal  ancestor  of  the  writer  of 

this  narrative. 


66  PASTOR    AND   TEACHER. 

by  this  time  tlie  work  had  come  to  devolve  chiefly  upon 
the  junior  minister,  and  it  was  thought  desirable  that 
his  relations  to  the  people  should  be  more  close  and 
permanent.  Accordingly,  a  vote  was  passed  in  the 
town  meeting,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1672,  "that  the 
Church  should  call  Mr.  Abraham  Pierson,  junior,  to  be 
joined  with  his  father,  in  time  convenient  for  the  or- 
derly effecting  it ;  and  they  have  agreed,"  it  is  said, 
"  upon  his  taking  oflfice,  he  shall  have  and  enjoy  his 
accommodations  granted  him,"  that  is,  his  lands,  tfec, 
"  upon  the  same  tenor  and  terms  that  other  men  in  our 
town  generally  hold  the  same."''^'  And  so,  "  upon  good 
experience  of  him,"  testifies  one  of  his  parishioners, 
"  he  was  called  and  ordained  to  be  our  teacher."f 

During  the  space  of  seven  years,  the  town  main- 
tained two  ministers  at  an  annual  expense  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  pounds,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year,  in  which,  in  consideration  of  hard  times  and 
many  expenses,  the  ministers  agreed  to  remit  twenty 
pounds,  and  accept  jointly  the  sum  of  one  hundred. J 

*  We  find  it  recorded  under  date  of  Jan-  kneading  trougli,  and  two  joint  stools,  for- 

I,  1671-2,  that  "Mr.  Pierson  hath  the  con-  merlj  belonging  to   the   said    Lawrence 

sent  of  the  town  given  him  to  buy  the  Ward,  deceased."      Query.     Is  this  the 

house,  or  any  part  of  the  lot,  that  belongs  chair  now  preserved  as  a  curious  relic,  in 

to  Elizabeth  Ward." — Eec,  p.  41.    Turn-  Yale  College,  and  called  Kector  Pierson's 

ing  to  the  Town  Book  of  Surveys,  Deeds,  chair? 

&c.,  we  find  John  Catlin  and  John  Ward,  t  Obadiah  Bruen.  (See  Jlomoirs  of 
turner,  administrators  of  the  estate  of  Matthias  Bruen,  p.  12.)  Primitive  Con- 
the  late  Deacon  Lawrence  Ward,  convey-  gregationalism  ruade  provision  for  two 
ing  to  "Abraham  Pierson,  Jr.,  Clericus,"  ministers  in  each  considerable  Church — 
"with  cotjsent  of  Elizabeth  Ward,  relict  pastor  and  teacher — with  distinct  olBces. 
of  Deacon  L.  Ward,  the  dwelling-house,  llere  the  father  seems  to  have  been  the 
well,  yard,  barn,  garden  and  orchard,  pastor,  and  the  son  the  teacher, 
with  one  acre  and  three  roods  of  land,  %  It  is  doubtful  whether  the  reduction 
contained  by  and  adjacent  to  the  same,  here  agreed  upon  ever  took  place,  as  the 
according  to  a  bill  of  sale  beaiing  date,  town  voted  the  next  year  that  "  the  vote 
Feb.  1,  1671-2,  as  also  one  great  wain-  made  Feb.  G,  167G,  concerning  the  minis- 
scot  chair,  one  chest,  two  hogsheads,  one  ters,  shall  be  now  void  and  of  none  eflect." 


DEATH   OF   ABRAHAM   PIEESON,    SENIOR.  6*7 

On  the  nintli  day  of  August,  1678,  tlie  venerable 
Abraham  Pierson,  senior,  departed  this  life.  He  had 
been  emphatically  a  i^ilgrim,  having  no  fixed  abode 
during  most  of  his  earthly  life.  Where  he  was  born, 
who  were  his  parents,  what  was  his  early  education, 
when  and  in  what  circumstances  he  first  gave  his 
heart  to  the  Saviour,  when  and  precisely  where  he  was 
set  apart  to  the  sacred  office  and  began  tp  preach  the 
everlasting  Gospel,  we  are  not  informed.  Precisely  in 
what  spot  his  honored  bones  rest,  no  record  tells  us, 
and  no  stone  points  out.  But  his  life,  full  of  piety  to 
God  and  service  to  his  fellow  men,  has  left  behind  it 
precious  memorials.  As  early  as  the  10th  of  August, 
1671,  he  made  preparation  for  his  departure,  by  dis- 
posmg  of  worldly  affairs,  "  being  firmly  persuaded,"  as 
he  said,  "  of  the  everlasting  welfare  of  my  soul's  estate ; 
and  my  body's  resurrection  to  eternal  life  by  Jesus 
Christ,  my  dear  and  precious  Eedeemer."  His  will 
breathes  throughout,  the  spirit  of  domestic  affection 
and  fervent  piety.  Nor  can  we  doubt  that  when  the 
last  hour  came,  it  found  him  stiU  resting  peacefully  in 
the  same  confidence.  •"  He  left  behind  him,"  says  Cot- 
ton Mather,  "the  character  of  a  pious  and  prudent 
man — a  true  child  of  Abraham — and  now  safely 
lodged  in  Abraham's  bosom."*     His  name  deserves  to 

(Town  Records,  p.  GG.)    The  occasion  of  pant,  Capt.  Sanford,  was  confiscated  and 

it  seems  to  have  been  a  severe  loss,  to  sold  during  the  continuance  of  the  Dutch 

which  the  people  had  just  before  been  power,   and  afterwards  restored   by  the 

subjected,  by  purchasing  from  the  Dutch  Proprietary  government,  without  remu- 

authorities  during  the  time  of  their  sway,  neration  to  the  purchasers.     See  Town 

the    tract    of   land   lying    between    the  Records. 

Passaic  and  Hackensack,  called  Barbadoes  *  Magnalia,  B.  iii.,  ch.  8,  "  In  sinu  Abra- 

neck.     This  tract,  for  which  they  had  hae,"  is  the  writer's  own  language.    He 

been  before  in  negociation  with  the  occu-  adds  the  following  "  Epitaphium  •"  Terns 


68  ABEAHAM   PIEESOJST,    JUNIOR. 

be  kept  fragrant,  and  surely  it  will  be  as  long  as 
Christian  piety  and  boly  energy  and  zeal  are  beld  in 
estimation,  and  the  Cburcli,  of  whicli  lie  was  the  first 
pastor,  knows  liow  to  value  her  brightest  ornaments.* 

About  seven  weeks  after  this  event,  the  town  met 
and  made  arrangements  for  the  permanent  support  of 
their  now  sole  pastor.  The  agreement  was  made  with 
great  unanimity — "every  planter  being  called  upon 
by  name  ;"  and  the  salary,  being  fixed  at  eighty  pounds 
a  year,  with  a  supply  of  firewood,  and  freedom  from 
taxation,  appears  not  to  have  been  altered  during  the 
remainder  of  Mr.  Pier  son's  ministry. 

Abraham  Pierson,  junior,  the  second  pastor  of  this 
Church,  was  born  in  Lynn,  Mass.,f  in  1641,  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1668,  and  was  called  to  be  as- 
sistant minister  here  on  the  28th  of  July,  1669.  His 
term  of  service  was  a  long  one,  amounting  in  all  to 
about  twenty-three  years ;  nearly  three  years  as  assist- 

discessit  suspirans  gaudia  coeli.  Patriam  Thomas  Piersou,  Jr.  There  was  an  Abra- 
Piersonus  scandit  ad  astra  suam."  ham  Pierson  living  on  the  allotment  of 
*  Mr.  Pierson  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas,  junior,  who  died  in  1756,  at  80 
Rev.  John  Wheelwright,  of  Exeter,  N.  H.,  years  of  age,  and  was  probably  his  sou. 
(see  Thompson's  Hist.  L.  I.,  vol.  1,  p.  S37,)  Thomas  Pierson,  senior,  was  probably  a 
who  was  a  brother  of  the  famous  Ann  near  relative.  He  was  married  to  Mary 
Hutchinson.  They  had  four  sons — Abra-  Harrison,  daughter  of  Richard  Harrison, 
ham,  Thomas,  Theophilus  and  Isaac — of  at  the  same  time  and  place  with  Abigail 
whom  the  last  two  were  to  have  each  "  one  Pierson  and  Mr.  Davenport.  His  name 
half  of  the  homestead."  Four  daughters  appears  among  the  original  subscribers, 
are  mentioned  in  his  will,  and  one  had  and  from  an  old  deed  in  the  Town  Book 
probably  died  before  him.  They  were  Abi-  as  well  as  from  the  Records,  we  learn  that 
gail,  married  Nov.  27, 1662,  at  Branford,  to  he  was  a  weaver  by  trade.  (See  Town 
a  son  of  Rev.  John  Davenport,  and  whom  Book,  p.  8.)  His  will  was  made  in  1698, 
he  calls  "my  choice  .and  precious  daughter  and  proved  in  1702.  His  sons  were  Sam- 
Davenport  ;"  Grace,  married  to  Samuel,  ucl  and  Thomas.  Samuel  was  admitted  a 
son  of  Robert  Kitchel ;  Mary,  who  is  men-  planter  in  January,  1686-7,  on  condition 
tioned  in  the  will  by  that  name;  and  Su-  of  "submitting  to  all  wholesome  town 
sanna  and  Rebecca,  whose  names  are  to  orders."  (Town  Records,  p.  109.) 
be  found  in  the  Branford  Town  Records.  t  Thompson's  Hist.  Long  Island,  p.  337. 
Thomas  was  called,  by  way  of  distinction. 


ABRAHAM   PIERSON,   JUNIOR.  69 

ant  to  his  father,  six  and  a  half  as  his  father's  col- 
league, and  a  little  less  than  fourteen  as  the  sole  pas- 
tor. He  was  a  regularly  installed  pastor  of  this  Church 
about  twenty  years.  During  the  most  of  this  period, 
both  before  and  after  his  father's  death,  great  harmony 
and  affection  seem  to  have  marked  the  intercourse  ©f 
the  minister  and  people.  The  annual  appropriations 
for  his  support  were  made  without  dispute,  in  the 
same  way  as  for  other  expenses  of  the  town,  and  the 
people  spoke  of  him  as  following  in  the  steps  of  his 
honored  father  in  godliness,  and  congratulated  them- 
selves, that  though  God  had  embittered  their  comforts 
by  taking  their  elder  shepherd  to  Himself,  He  had  not 
left  them  destitute  of  spiritual  enjoyments,  but  had 
given  them  a  faithful  dispenser  of  the  word  of  God — 
"  a  young  Timothy,"  a  man  after  God's  own  heart,  well 
rooted  and  grounded  in  the  faith,  and  one  "with 
whom  they  could  comfortably  walk  in  the  doctrines  of 
the  faith."* 

*  Town  Records.    Life  of  M.  Bruen,  p.  God's  own  heart,  well  rooted  and  ground- 

12.     The    following  letter,    written    by  ed  in  the  faith,  one  with  whom  we  can 

Obadiah  Bruen  to  his  children  deserves  comfortably  walk  in  the  doctrines  of  the 

notice,  both  as  giving  some  facts  relating  faith.    Praise  to  our  God. 

to  the  history  of  the  Church,  and  as  illus-  "  Upon  good  experience  of  him,  he  was 

trating  the  character  of  the  writer,  who  called  and  ordained  to  be  our  teacher,  Mr. 

was  one  of  its  most  honored  founders.  Abraham  Pierson,  who  follows  in  the  steps 

,,  T^  n  x^  of  bis  ancient  father  in  godliness.    Praise 

"Deae  and  loving  Son  and  Dadghtee —      ^  p    , 

"  Hoping  of  your  health,  -n-ith  yours,  as  "Loving  son,  I  would  entreat  you  when 

we  are  at  present     Praise  to  our  God.  your  own  occasion  serves  going  to  New 

"  It  hath  pleased  God  hitherto  to  con-  London,  that  you  would  make  some  in- 

tinueour  lives  and  liberties,  though  it  hath  quiry  for  me  about  some  land  I  have  in 

pleased  him  to  embitter  our  comforts  by  the  General  Neck,  thirteen  acres,  and  six 

taking  to  himself  our  reverend  pastor,  acres  in  two  parcels,  both  lying  near  to 

Au^.  the  7th,  1G78,  Mr.  Pierson.  Goodman  Rogers,  his  farm.     I  am  inform- 

"  \'et  hath   he  not  left  us    destitute  ed  Goodman  Rogers  his  sons  have  made 

of  spiritual    enjoyments,  but  hath  giv-  improvement  of  it  before  I  heard  any 

en  us  a  faithful  dispenser  of  the  Word  thing  of  it,  being  far  off.    I  know  not 

of  God — a  young  Timothy — a  man  after  what  course  to  take  in  it;  it  is  an  incivil 


70 


GLANCE   AT   THE   CONGEEGATION. 


Let  US  now  cast  a  glance  upon  tlie  little  assembly, 
BS  they  were  wlien  the  appurtenances  of  the  house  of 
worship  were  completed,  and  the  settlement  in  the  full 
tide  of  its  youthful  prosperity.  We  will  select  for  the 
purpose  the  year  1682,  and  take  some  bright  Sabbath 
morning  early  in  June,  when  the  strawberries  are  red 
among  the  green  grass,  the  birds  singing  in  the  mead- 
ows in  a  full  chorus,  and  the  apple  blossoms  scarcely 
yet  fallen  in  the  orchards,  for  which  Newark  had  even 
then  become  noted.  On  the  west  side  of  Broad  street, 
then  as  now  the  principal  avenue  through  the  town, 
and  nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  present  First  Pres- 
byterian Church,  with  an  irregular  marshy  pond  ex- 
tending nearly  to  Market  street  on  the  north-west,  and 
a  few  graves  marking  a  small  burying-place  on  a  little 
eminence  not  far  in  the  rear,*  stood  a  low  and  somewhat 


part,  and  an  ill  precedent ;  yet  for  peace 
and  quietness's  sake,  if  he  will  purchase 
both  parcels  I  adhere  thereunto.  I  esti- 
mate both  parcels  at  ten  pounds.  When 
you  know  which  of  his  sons  it  is,  I  pray 
you  know  of  him  how  long  he  hath  im- 
proved it,  and  why  he  would  deal  so  un- 
worthily, to  make  discord  among  friends. 
Know  of  him  what  he  intends  to  do,  and 
whether  he  means  to  hold  it  in  such  an 
unrighteous  way,  or  come  to  some  com- 
position. When  I  hear  from  you,  and 
understand  the  state  of  things  rightly,  I 
will  accordingly  apply  myself  to  make 
some  issue. 

"It  would  much  rejoice  us  to  see  j^ou 
face  to  face,  but  Providence  otherwise  dis- 
posing, I  desire  to  hear  from  you  as  often 
as  opportunit}'  will  permit.  Your  brother, 
John  Bruen,  and  bis  wife,  desire  remem- 
brance of  their  dear  love  to  you,  also  your 
sister  Hannah  and  her  husband  desire  the 
same.  All  in  health,  praise  to  our  God, 
with  their  children.  Our  dear  love  to  you 
both. 


"Will  you  remember  our  respects  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitch,  and  love  to  all  Chris- 
tian friends,  as  your  opportunity  will  per- 
mit. So  praying  for  you,  that  your  spir- 
itual and  temporal  comforts  may  be  con- 
tinued to  you  and  yours,  I  rest 
"  Your  loving  father, 

"  Obadiah  Beuex, 
"and  mother, 

"Sarah  Bruen." 

"Extracted  out  of  the  original,  under 
Mr.  Bruen's  haudv^Titing,  'per  Ebenezer 
Hile,  Recorder,  July  2, 16S1." 

N.  B.  The  above  is  taken  from  the  Life 
of  Rev.  Matthias  Bruen,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  copied  from  the  Records  of 
New  London,  Conn.  It  is  a  full  length 
portrait  of  the  Newark  Puritans,  or  rather 
a  daguerreotype  likeness.  Very  kind 
LOVING  PEOPLE,  as  worthy  Peter  AVatsou 
declared,  yet  not  unmindful  of  their  tem- 
poral rights.  " 

*  The  following  description  ct  the 
ground  on  which  the  Church  stood,  is  given 
by  Dr.  Macwhorter    in   his    manuscript 


FIRST   MEETING   HOUSE.  11 

singular  looking  wooden  edifice,  witliout  .chimney  or 
cupola,  spreading  out  to  the  breadth  of  thirty-six  feet 
square  on  the  ground,  and  at  most  sixteen  feet  high  in 
front  beneath  the  eaves,  and  somewhat  less  in  the  rear ; 
the  roof  sloping  down  the  back  side  near  to  the 
ground,  and  covering  an  appendage  called  a  "  lenter" 
or  lean-to,  ten  feet  wide,  after  the  manner  of  some  of 
the  old  farm  houses,  of  which  remnants  may  still  be 
found  in  the  country.  There  it  stood,  with  the  gable 
ends  north  and  south,  and  the  br©ad-side  "  nigh  front- 
ing on  a  square  with  the  street,"  in  the  precise  spot 
which  Mr.  Pierson  the  elder.  Deacon  Ward  and  Mr. 
Treat  had  assigned  for  it.  It  is  our  first  meeting 
HOUSE* — the  place  of  worship  and  the  place  of  lousi- 
ness— the  theatre  of  all  important  transactions,  ci\Tl, 
military  and  religious,  in  the  town  of  Newark,  dming 
the  first  forty  years  of  its  existence.  There  the  towns- 
men "  after  lecture"f  held  theii'  regular  stated  meetings, 

history :  "  Behind  it,"  that  is,  the  Church,  burying    place,    for    what    reasons    not 

"  and   between    that    and   the  hollow  or  now  known,  though  a  number  of  the  first 

swamp,  upon  the  brow  of  the  hill,  was  dead  were  buried  there.     This  knoll  is  not 

the  old  or  first  training  ground.     Beyond  now  so  much  as  claimed   by  the  Church, 

the  hollow  or  swamp  was    the  burying  though  the  swamp  or  pond,  which  divides 

place,  on  a  rising  knoll  or  tongue  of  laud,  it  from  the  next  knoll,  eastward,  is." 

which  divided  this  from  a  greater  swamp  *  The  old  Puritanical  word    "  mecting- 

or  pond,  westward  of  which  the  land  rose  house,"    is  an  almost  literal  translation 

into  another  hill,  then  presently  sunk  into  into  plain  Saxon    English   of  the    word 

a  flat   and   brook,  called   "the  watering  "synagogue" — the  source  from  which  the 

place."     This   last  hill  was  the   original  Christian  Church  derived  the  model  of  its 

burying  ground;  but  long  since,   more  worship.    It  was  preferred  to  the  word 

than  one  hundred  years  ago,  it,  some  way,  "  Church,"  because  the  latter  had  been  ap- 

became  private  property,  has  been  occu-  propriatcd  in  our  English  Bible  to  desig- 

pied  and  cultivated  as  such,  and  not  a  nate  the  body  of  Christian  people,  whether 

trace   of    a   cemetery     there    remains."  general  or  local. 

Again,  be  speaks  of  the  same  ground  as  t  It  is  recorded,  Jan.  1,  1676-7,  that 
" poor  land,  chiefly  swamp,  comprehend-  "John  Baldwin,  junior,  Thomas  Pierson, 
ing  three  small  knolls  of  high  and  dry  junior,  Thomas  Pierson,  senior,  John  Cat- 
land  fit  for  a  cemetery.  The  western  knoll  lin,  William  Camp,  Azariah  Crane  and 
of  the  three  was  early  relinquished  as  a  George  Day  are  chosen  townsmen  for  the 


12  FOETIFIED    SANCTUAEY. 

and  there,  on  any'  alarm,  the  brave  soldiers  of  the  little 
community  assembled  with  their  arms  at  beat  of 
drum,*  to  defend  their  homes  and  altars,  their  little 
ones  and  their  wives.  And  now  we  notice  two  rudely 
constructed  appendages,  at  two  corners  of  the  sacred 
edifice.  They  are  called,  in  military  phrase,  '•''flanhers^'' 
made  with  palisades,  or  sharpened  stakes,  di'iven  near 
together  in  the  ground,  and  so  placed,  that  the  sol- 
diers sheltered  behind  them,  may  command  the  sides 
of  the  house  in  every  direction.  They  were  construct- 
ed in  the  year  1675,  when  Philip's  war  was  raging  in 
New  England,  and  the  terror  of  Indian  butcheries,  so 
appalling  to  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island 
and  Connecticut,  could  hardly  fail  to  have  communi- 
cated an  alarm  to  their  friends  and  relatives,  even  in 
this  distant  settlement.  The  house  itself,  as  we  shall 
see  on  entering  it,  has  been  fitted  for  defence  ;  for  at 
the  same  period  the  town  gave  orders  to  have  it  lathed 
and  the  walls  "  filled  up  with  thin  stone  and  mortar 
as  high  as  the  girts" — a  work  on  which  all  the  men 
of  the  town  above  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  companies 
of  twelve,  each  day,  wrought  in  their  turns,  carrying 
their  arms  with  them  as  did  the  Israelites  when  they 
re-built  their  temple,  to  be  ready  against  sudden  sur- 

year  ensuing.    These  townsmen  are  ap-  date  of  March  22,  1679-80,  we  find  the 

pointed  to  meet  every  lecture  day  in  the  af-  following:    "It  is  agreed  that  the  drum 

temoon."    (Newark  Town  Records,  p.  68.)  being  begun  to  be  beaten  at  Joseph  Riggs's 

Accordingly  we  find  a  record  commencing  gate,  and  so  all  the  way  up  the  street   as 

thus :  "  After  lecture  the  1st  of  May,  1678,  far  as  Sergeant  Harrison's  gate  ;  and  at  the 

it  was  thought  meet  to  send  two  letters  to  ceasing  of  the  beating  of  the  drum,  three 

Holland,  one  to  Anthony   Colve,  and  the  gmis  being  distinctly  fired  oflF;  it  shall  be 

other  to  the   Court   of   Admiralty,"   &c.  sufficient  warning  for  all  such  as  are  in  the 

Do.,  p.  69.  military  list  forthwith  to  meet  at  the  meet- 

*  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  78.    Under  ing  house  in  their  arms." 


SABBATH   MOENINGS.  T3 

prises  *  The  House  of  God  was  thus  the  house  of  re- 
fuge for  the  people ;  and  there,  had  the  savage  foe 
burst  upon  them,  would  the  women  and  children  of  the 
town  have  assembled  for  protection,  close  by  God's 
holy  altar.  Smile  not,  if  I  apj^ly,  even  to  this  rude  and 
lowly  edifice,  words  used  with  reference  to  a  more  am- 
ple and  costly  sanctuary.  "  Walk  about  Zion,  and  go 
round  about  her ;  mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks ;  con- 
sider her  palaces,  that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the  generation 
following."  Though  without  either  towers  or  palaces, 
not  Zion  itself  was  more  sacred. 

The  holy  morning  has  now  dawned.  Nearly  oppo- 
site the  Church,  stands  the  residence  of  the  late  senior 
pastor,  now  occupied,  we  may  presume,  by  his  aged 
widow,  with  her  two  younger  sons,  Theophilusf  and 
Isaac,  already  grown  to  man's  estate,  who,  having  been 
carefully  taught,  according  to  their  father's  direction, 
"  to  read  the  English  tongue  and  write  a  legible  hand," 
are  employing  diligently  the  sacred  hours  in  studying 
the  "  new  English  Bible,"  or  perusing  "  the  good  Eng- 
lish book  out  of  his  library,"  "  such  as  they  by  the 

*  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  57.    "  Town  the  women,  children,  provision  and  animu- 

meeting,  Aug.  28,  1675. — It  is  agreed  that  nition,  in  case  of  imminent  danger  by  the 

the  meeting-house   shall   be   lathed    and  Indians.     Mr.  Whitehead  observes,  p.  78, 

filled  up  with  thin  stone  and  mortar  be-  "It  is  doubtful  if  these  were  generally,  if 

tween  the  girts,  and  the  charge  hereof  at  all,  provided."    The  people  of  Newark 

shall  be  levied  as  the  town  shall  iigree.  however  responded  at  once  by  their  action* 

"  Itevi — It  is  also  agreed  for  the  better  to  this  as  to  all  other  laws  of  the  Prov- 
security  of  the  town,  all  the  men  above  16  ince.  The  law  was  passed  in  November, 
years  of  age,  shall  from  day  to  day  as  their  At  a  meeting  eaily  the  next  January, 
turns  come,  attend  this  work  about  the  "Capt.  Swaine,  Sergeant  Johnson  and  Ser- 
meeting-house  till  it  be  finished,  and  bring  geant  Harrison,  are  chosen  by  vote  to 
their  arms  with  them.  Twelve  men  are  join  with  the  commissioned  officers  to  con- 
appointed  to  appear  in  a  day."  sider  about  and  contrive  for  the  fortifica- 

The  General  Assembly,  in  the  year  1675,  tions  belonging  to  our  town."  (Rec.  p.  59.) 
ordered  fortifications  to  be  provided  in  eve-        t  Theophilus  was  born  March  15,  1659, 

ry  town,  and  a  house  therein  for  securing  and  of  course  was  now  23  years  of  age. 


^4  ASSEMBLING    FOR    WOESHIP. 

advice  of  tlieir  motlier"  were  to  choose,  as  a  special 
legacy  to  them  from  that  same  venerable  saint.* 

All  along  up  and  down  the  street,  stand,  on  either 
side,  at  regular  intervals,  the  quiet  homes  of  the  j^lant- 
ers,  and  everywhere  through  the  open  windows,  may 
he  heard  the  voice  of  prayer  and  psalm-singing  at  the 
domestic  altar,  or  the  low  hum  of  youthful  voices 
studying  or  reciting  the  much  prized  catechism. 

The  hour  of  public  worship  now  approaches,  and 
the  deep  tones  of  the  village  drum,  beaten  along  the 
the  broad  grassy  street  by  one  of  the  young  men,  gives 
the  signal  to  make  ready.f  It  beats  again ;  and  now, 
the  doors  opening,  out  come  in  every  direction  the 
grave  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  community,  the  stur- 
dy sons  and  comely  daughters,  with  the  cheerful  and 
yet  sober  little  ones,  all  in  their  best  attire,  and  such 
as  never  sees  the  light  except  on  Sabbath  days,  and 
for  the  sake  of  decency  in  God's  Avorship.  Down 
through  the  cross  streets,  and  some  on  horseback  from 
the  far  distant  Mountain,  J  where  the  settlement  was 
already  extending  itself,  they  pour  along  in  j^leasant 
family  groups,  and  meet  a  united  community  at  the 
house  of  prayer. 

Let  us  enter  with  them  the  sacred  enclosure.     Di- 

*  Abraham  Picrson,  senior's,  will.  mer  as  before,  upon  condition  that  he  beats 

t  The  custom  of  calling  the   worship-  the  first  drum  at  least  as  far  up  as  the  saw 

pers  together  on  the   Lord's  day  with  a  pit  in  the  corner  of  Sergeant   Harrison's 

drum  was  so  common  among  the  early  lot."    (Newark  Town  Records,  p.  82.) 

settlers  of  New  England,  that  there  can  X  "Town  meeting,  December  12,  16S1. 

be  little  doubt  that  such  was  the  practice  It  is  voted  that  there   shall  be  surveyors 

here.     The  drummer  seems  to  have  risen  chosen  to  hv  out  highways  as  fai-  as  the 

to  the  dignity  of  a  town  officer,  for  we  mountain  if  need  be,"  &c.     (Newark  Town 

read,  under  date  of  January  2,  1670,  that  Records,  p.  89.) 
"  the  town  chose  Joseph  Johnson  for  drum- 


CONGREGATION   SEATED.  T5 

rectly  opposite  the  street  door  stands  tlie  simple  pulpit, 
Tinder  the  sloping  roof  of  the  low  "  lenter."  *  There 
are  no  pews  claimed  as  private  property  by  families  or 
indi^dduals,  but  seats  ranged  through  the  middle,  and 
along  the  sides  of  the  house,  and  every  man,  woman 
and  child  take  the  seats  specially  assigned  to  them  by 
the  town's  Committee,  appointed  for  that  purpose,  f 
We  can  hardly  suppose  there  would  be  no  inward 
heart-burnings  among  these  staid  Puritans  in  regard  to 
the  post  of  honor  or  obscurity  which  each  person  must 
occupy.  But  the  Committee  are  good  and  true  men, 
and,  according  to  their  best  judgment,  they  have  per- 
formed the  delicate  task  set  them,  and  arranged  the 
whole  congregation  ""  according  to  office,  age,  estate,  in- 
firmity, and  descent  or  parentage." J  In  a  seat  below 
the  pulpit,  facing  the  congregation,  sit  the  two  worthy 
officers  of  the  Church,  Deacon  Michael  Tompkins  and 
Deacon  Richard  Lawrence ;  for  their  venerable  prede- 

*  I  think  there  is  little  doubt  that  this        "Feb.  I'd.— Item The  town  doth  em- 

was  the  arrangement  of  the  pulpit.    The  power  the  committee  already   chosen  to 

Rev.  Mr.  Sewall,  of  Burlington,  Mass.,  in-  carry  on  the  seating  the  meeting  house 

forms  me  that  he  remembers  an  ancient  with  as  good  prudence  as  they  can."    (p. 

house  of  worship  in  his  native  town  of  74.)    "July,  16S0.    It  is  agreed  that  the 

Marblehead,  Mass.,  corresponding  to  that  middle  part  of  the  meeting  house,  which 

above  described,  and  that  the  pulpit  was  is  yet  to  be  seated,  shall  have  three  seats 

arranged  under  the  roof  of  the  lean-to.  of  aside."    (p.  80.) 

t  The  Town  Records  contain  the  fol-  X  "  Tohti  meeting,  Feb.  18,  1679-80. 
lowing  notices  of  the  process  of  preparing  Concerning  seating  persons  in  the  meeting 
this  portion  of  Sabbath  conveniences,  house,  it  was  agreed  that  persons  should 
"  Town  meeting,  Feb.  12,  1G78-9.  /(cm.  be  placedji£corciinj;  to  office,  age,  estate, 
It  is  agreed  that  the  meeting  house  shall  infirmity^  and  descent_or_pa.reixt£^ge.  By 
be  seated  in  convenient  time  for  our  con-  estate  is  meant  that  estate  as  persons  pur- 
venience  in  meeting  together  for  God's  chased  and  took  up  land  by,  together  with 
worship."  "Item. — The  townsmen,  Thom-  the  present  estate,  comparing  all  these  te- 
as Luddington,  Captain  Swainc  and  gether.  Mr.  Ward,  Mr.  Johnson,  Deacon 
John  Brown,  junior,  are  chosen  to  con-  Tompkins,  Richard  Harrison,  Stephen 
trive  for  the  most  decent  and  convenient  Davis,  Thomas  Huntington  and  John 
way  (as  they  think)  to  seat  it;  also,  as  Brown,  jr.,  are  chosen  a  committee  to  this 
near  as  they  can,  report  what  it  will  cost."  work."  (Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  77, 
pp.  71-2.  78.) 


T6  SUPPRESSION    OF   DISOEDEE. 

cessor,  Deacon  Ward,  has  been  sleeping  quietly  now 
these  ten  years  in  the  little  church-yard,  where  his  old 
pastor  rests  beside  him,  waiting  for  the  glorious  morn- 
ing of  the  Resurrection. 

The  front  seats  are  filled  "  as  far  as  practicable  with 
men  and  women ;"  for  the  youth  and  children  must 
not  occupy  the  preferred  places  *  The  young  people 
of  the  congregation  are  ranged  behind ;  and  since, 
being  separated  from  their  parents  and  by  their  posi- 
tion somewhat  out  of  the  reach  of  admonishing  looks, 
they  are  inclined  sometimes  to  forget  the  sanctity  of 
the  place,  and  "  misbehave  themselves  in  the  time  of 
worship,  by  whispering,  sleeping  and  the  like,"  a  special 
officer  appointed  by  the  town — Azariah  Crane,  some 
time  after  Deacon  Azariah  Crane,f  is  the  man  for  this 
half  year — ^has  them  in  charge,  with  powers  extending 
likewise  to  any  of  larger  growth  who  may  be  disposed 
to  offend,  "  to  see  that  they  do  carry  themselves  rev- 
erently" both  in  and  about  the  House  of  God  in  the 
time  of  worship.  J 

*  "  Town  meeting,  February  the  24th,  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Newark  aforesaid, 

1681-2.    Item. — It  was  agreed  that  the  my  silver  bowl,  to  be  used  for  the  service 

foremost  seats  in  the  meeting  house  shall  of  God  forever,  in  the  town  of  Newark 

be  occupied  with  men  and  women  so  far  aforesaid."   He  had  sons — Nathaniel,  Aza- 

forth  as  conveniency  will  admit."  (Town  riah,  John  and  Robert. — S.  H.  Congar. 
Records,  p.  91.)                                         >         For  a  time  he  seems  to  have  resided  on 

t  Azariah  Crane,  son  of  Jasper  Crane,  his  out-lands  at  "the  mountain." 
senior,  was  probably  elected  to  the  ofl5ce        %  Newark  Town  Records.     Under  date 

of  Deacon,  on  the    decease  of    Deacon  of  Nov.  24,  167y,  we  find  the  following: 

Tompkins  or  Deacon  Lawrence,  about  the  "Item — There  being  complaint  that  many, 

year    1690    or    '91.     He    married    Mary,  as  are  grown  persons,  as  well  as  boys,  do 

daughter  of  Robert  Treat,  and  resided  on  misbehave  themselves  on  the  Lord's  day, 

the  home-lot  of  his  father-in-law,  on  the  in  the  time  of  public  service,  both  in  the 

south-east   corner  of  Market  and  Broad  meeting  house  and  without  by  the  house 

.streets.    He  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  sides,  also  by  sleeping,  whispering  and 

last  survivor  of  the  original  subscribers  of  tlie  like  ;  wherefore  the  town  hath  chosen 

the  Fundamental  Agreements.     He  died  Thomas  Pierson,  jr.,  and  Samuel  Potter  to 

in  1730,  aged  83.    In  his  will,  he  gave  "  to  use  their  best  care  and  endeavor  to  restrain 


WOKSHIPPERS   AEMED.  tt 

The  men  are  armed ;  for  the  town  voted,  only  a 
short  time  before,  that  a  watch  should  be  kept  in  the 
night  and  a  ward  on  Sabbath  days ;  and  gave  direc- 
tions, not  as  on  other  occasions,  that  "  one-fourth  of  the 
town  shall  carry  arms  to  meeting  on  the  Lord's  day," 
but  that  "  every  soldier  do  bring  his  arms  every  day 
of  public  worship,  well  fixed,  and  also  his  ammuni- 
tion." Two  warders  and  one  sentry  stand  to  guard 
against  surprises ;  and  the  chief  military  officers,  Cap- 
tain Samuel  Swaine*  and  Lieuteuanf'  John  Curtis,  have 
the  charge  of  the  whole  matter. 

In  the  pulpit  stands  the  reverend  divine,  with 
whose  name  and  history  hitherto  you  are  already  fa- 
miliar. In  his  person  he  is  somewhat  taller  than  the 
middle  stature,  "  a  fleshy,  well-favored  and  comely 
looking  man,"f  and  now  arrived  at  the  mature  age  of 
thirty-seven  years.  You  perceive  in  him  one  of  the 
best  specimens  of  the  first  growth  of  the  American 
Colonies ;  born  in  the  country,  educated  at  its  own 
University,  and  destined  to  perform  an  important  part 
in  its  literary  and  religious  history.  What  were  the 
words  of  trntli  lie  then  uttered,  what  the  psalms  they 
sang,  and  what  tlie  })rayers  tliey  offered,  is  now  known 
only  to  the  Omniscient,  The  sweet  odor  of  their  sim- 
ple worship  has  gone  up  as  incense  to  the  throne  of 

like  disorder  in  time  of  public  worship,  *  Capt.  Swaine  must  have  had  vivid 

by  rebuking  such  persons  as  behave  them-  impressions  of  Indian  atrocitj-— his  own 

selves  irreverently,  within  or  without  the  sister  having  been  seized  and  carried  off 

the  house;  and  if  they  are  such  grown  by  a  fierce  Pequot  chief,  at  Weathersfield, 

persons  as  will  not  be  restrained  by  their  many  years  before.    (See  Trumbull's  Hist, 

rebukes,  then  they  are  to  present  them  to  Conn.,  vol.  1,  p.  Ho.) 

the  authority."    p.  76.  +  Letter  to  President  Stiles. 


Y8  PECULIAE   PRIVILEGES. 

Jehovah,  and  the  instructions  given  left  their  traces 
only  on  the  hearts  of  the  listeners.  ^^ 

Highly  favored  of  the  Lord  seemed  this  little  assem- 
bly of  devout  worshippers.  In  all  this  region,  God 
had  not  dealt  so  with  any  people.  There  were  a  few 
Christian  congregations  in  the  neighboring  settlements, 
indeed  in  every  town  occupied  by  New  England  emi- 
grants "  there  was  a  meeting-house  where  they  wor- 
shipped publicly  every  week,"  and  one  or  two  of  these 
had  had  ministers,  but  they  were  dead ;  and  now,  as 
to  their  praise  it  is  declared  by  a  contemporary, 
"thepeople  meet  together  every  Sabbath  day,  and 
read^nd  j[)ray,  and  sing  2:)salms  in  their  meeting- 
houses." But  more  than  one  contemporary  bears  wit- 
ness, that  not  a  settled  preacher  is  to  be  found  in  all 
East  Jersey  who  follows  no  other  employment,  save  in 
^one  town,  Newark."^  They  love  the  Sabbath,  they 
love  the  sanctuary,  they  well  appreciate,  and  regard 
with  honor  and  affection,  their  learned,  pious,  and 
truly  excellent  mimister.  And  though,  in  coming  to 
this  new  settlement,  and  planting  here,  in  a  wilderness 

*  This  was  said  in  16S4,  but  was  equally  one  town — Newark."    Peter  Watson,  wri- 

true  two  years  earlier.    A  joint  letter  of  ting  to  his  brother  John,  in  August  of  the 

David  Barclay,  Arthur  Forbes  and  Gawen  same  year,  says :    "  There  are  here  very 

Laurie,  written  to  the  Proprietors  in  Scot-  good  religious  people ;  they  go  under  the 

land,  Mai'ch,  1684,  says  :    "  There  be  peo-  name  of  Independents,  but  are  most  like 

pie  of  several  sorts  of  religion ;  few  very  to  the  Presbyterians,  only  they  will  not 

zealous.    The  people  being  mostly  New  receive  every  one  to  their  society.    We 

England  men,  do   mostly  incline  to  their  have  great  need  of  good  and  faithful  min- 

way;  and  in  every  town  there  is  a  meeting  isters,  and   I  wish  to  God  there  would 

house  where  they  worship  publicly  every  come  some  over  here;  they  can  live  as  well 

week.    They  have  no  public  law  in  the  and  have  as  much  as  in  Scotland,  and 

country  for  maintaining  public  teachers,  more   than   many  get.     We   have    none 

but  the  towns  that  have  them  make  way  within  all  the  Province  of  East  Jersey, 

within  themselves  to  maintain  them.    We  except  one  who  is  preacher  in  Newark." 

know  none  that  hath  a  settled  preacher  ("Model of  the  Government,"  see  White- 

that  follows  no  other  employment,  save  head,  pp.  291,  302.) 


DEATH   OF   FIRST  SETTLERS. 


79 


tenanted  liitherto  only  with  savages  and  wild  beasts,* 
the  institutions  of  religion,  tliey  have  been  required  to 
make  many  sacrifices,  and  still,  as  their  garrisoned 
Church  testifies,  are  subjected  to  some  troubles  and 
fears,  their  blessings  far  outweigh  all  their  disadvan- 
tages, and  praise  to  the  Giver  of  all  good,  forms  a  large 
part,  both  of  their  public  and  their  private  devotions. 
But  I  must  hasten  to  the  close  of  this  bright  portion 
of  our  early  history.  The  ministry  of  the  two  Pier- 
sons  extended  over  just  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  all 
the  while  time  was  working  its  gradual  changes.  A 
few  names  of  considerable  note  were  early  added  to 
the  original  settlers,f  while  some  who  appeared  at  first 
among  the  number  went  back  soon,  or  removed  to 
other  settlements.^  Meanwhile,  death  had  been  clos- 
ing up  the  earthly  account  of  the  revered  fathers  of 


*  Wolves  and  bears  must  have  caused 
no  little  trouble  to  TBe  settlers,  especially 
the  former,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  ef- 
forts made  to  destroy  them.  One  of  the 
earliest  town  acts  was  the  offer  of  a  bounty 
for  the  killing  of  wolves.  From  fifteen  to 
twenty  smiliugs  was  the  reward  for  a 
grown  wolf,  and  five  shillings  for  a  bear 
cub.  There  were  laws  to  the  same  effect 
made  by  the  General  Assembly.  But  as 
to  the  town's  bounty,  the  savage  beast 
must  be  caught  and  killed  within  the 
town's  bounds,  or  else  no  pay  was  to  be 
received  for  either  wolf  or  bear.  Sergeant 
Kiggs  seems  to  have  exercised  his  martial 
prowess  in  this  direction,  and  had  a  "  wolf 
pit"  somewhere  within  the  bounds  of  the 
settlement.  (Town  Records,  pp.  5,  76, 9), 
103.)  James  Johnstone,  a  Scotchman, 
writing  to  his  friends  at  home,  says  the 
wolves  "are  nothing  to  be  feared,  neither 
are  the  country  people  afraid  to  be  among 
them  all  night,  in  so  much  that  I  ofttimes 
going  wrong  and  lying  out  all  night,  and 


hearing  their  yells  about  me,  and  telling 
that  I  was  afraid  of  them,  the  country  peo- 
jjle  lautjhed  at  it.'"  The  snakeSj  too,  the 
worthy  Scotchman  thought  but  a  mere 
circumstance  ;  for,  he  continues,  "nothing 
can  come  near  them  but  they  give  warn- 
ing with  the  rattling  of  their  t-ails,  so  that; 
people  may  either  kill  them  or  go  by  them 
as  they  please."  ("The  Model  of  the 
Government,"  see  Whitehead,  p.  298.) 

t  Among  the  early  additions  to  the  set- 
tlement were  Robert  Bond,  who  came  from 
Elizabethtown  probably  in  1073,  John 
^lorris,  Bartholomew  Goodrich,  J 'avid 
Ogden,  who  came  from  Elizabethtown 
about  1677,  John  Gardner,  Richard  Fletch- 
er, Matthew  Williams,  John  Brown,  jr., 
Anthony  Oleff  or  Olive,  John  Mackleson, 
John  Cockburn,  Samuel  Potter,  Patrick 
Falconer  (merchant),  John  Wilkins,  John 
Couch,  Zophar  Beach,  (tailor),  John  Con- 
dit. 

X  Among  those  whose  names  are  men- 
tioned as  if  intending  to  become  settlers, 


80  DEATH    OF   FIEST   SETTLEES. 

the  community.  When  Robert  Treat  retm'ned  to 
Connecticut  in  the  year  1672,  Deacon  Ward,  Sergeant 
Riggs,*  Robert  Kitcliel,  and  Hugh  Roberts,  were  al- 
ready among  the  dead.  Matthew  Camfield,  and  prob- 
ably Delivered  Crane,  departed  this  life  during  the 
year  following;  Stephen  Freeman  died  in  1675  ;  John 
Harrison,  son  of  Sergeant  Richard,  in  1676,  and  Josiah 
Ward  in  or  before  1677.  All  these  preceded  their 
aged  senior  pastor,  and  were,  perhaps,  attended  by  him 
to  the  grave.  Jasper  Crane,  Sen.,  Martin  Tichenor, 
George  Day,  Samuel  Swaine,  and  Obadiah  Bruen  fin- 
ished their  course,  it  is  supposed,  about  the  year  1681. 
Sergeant  Richard  Harrison,  John  Ward  Turner,  Thom- 
as Huntington,  and  John  Rogers,  about  the  years 
1683  and  '84.  Joseph  Walters  died  in  1688,  and  Jo- 
seph Riggs  in  1689.  John  Brown,  senior,  John  Bald- 
win, junior,  Stephen  Davis,  Samuel  Kitchel,f  Michael 
Tompkins,  and  Richard  Lawrence,  were  among  the 
harvest  which  death  reaped  in  the  years  1690  and  '91. 
Patrick  Falconer,  a  near  neighbor  and  special  friend 
of  the  second  Abraham  Pierson,  fell  in  the  prime  of 

but  who  either  never  came,  or  went  back  they  at  one  time  had  in  mind  to  establish 
very  soon,  are  Mr.  Leet,  Mr.  Thomas  Mor-  on  the  basis  of  the  Hopkins  fund  ?) 
ris,  Mr.  Webster,  Thomas  and  Aaron  *  Edward  Riggs,  Sen.,  or  Sergeant  Ed- 
Blatchley,  John  Bostwick,  Eleazar  Rogers,  ward,  died  previous  to  January,  1670-71, 
John  Rockwell,  Robert  Lyman,  Azariah  when  his  second  division  of  land  was  laid 
Beech,  John  Gregory,  John  Brooks,  out  to  his  widow.  Towu  Records,  p.  35. 
Thomas  Harrison,  Joseph  Horton,  and  Edward  and  Joseph  were  his  sons. 
Goodman  Cole.  John  Catlin  sold  his  land  t  Samuel  Kitchel  died  April  2(3th,  1690. 
to  Henry  Lyon,  about  1682.  John  Rogers,  His  children  named  in  the  will  are,  Sam- 
senior,  died  in  Milfbrd,  1683  or  '84.  Jerc-  uel  the  eldest  son,  to  whom  he  gave  a  dou- 
miah  Feck  sold  his  lands  to  Mr.  Wilson  in  ble  portion,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Seth  Tomp- 
1674,  and  removed  to  Elizabcthtown.  kins,  Abigal  wife  of  John  Ward,  son  of 
(Query— Was  this  the  Jeremiah  Peck  of  Sergeant  John;  Mary,  wife  of  a  Josiah 
whom  Trumbull  speaks,  vol.  l,p.  292,  as  Ward;  Susanna,  wife  of  Jonathan  Bald- 
having  been  selected  by  the  people  of  New  win,  and  Abraham,  who  seems  to  have 
Haven  for  the  teadhcr  of  the  College  which  been  a  minor,  afterwards  Deacon  Abraham 

Kitchel  of  Whippany. 


DEATH   OF    FIEST   SETTLERS.  81 

life,  in  the  year  1692,*  a  few  montlis  only  before  the 
close  of  this  period.  John  Ward,  senior,  Thomas  John- 
son,f  Ephraim  Pennington,  Thomas  Lyon,  Ebenezer 
Camfield,  John  Brown,  junior,  John  Crane,  and  Ste- 
phen Bond,  stayed  but  a  little  longer,  and  were  all 
gathered  to  their  rest,  in  and  about  the  year  1694. 
The  virgin  soil  of  the  old  burying  ground,  unbroken 
by  the  hand  of  the  husbandman,  was  now  becoming 
thick  sown  with  the  precious  seed  of  the  Resurrection ! 
And  how  died  they  ?  It  were  hardly  to  be  expected 
we  should  hear  their  departing  testimony,  since  the  me- 
moir of  none  of  them  has  been  written,  except  as  they 
unconsciously  chronicled  their  own.  And  yet  we  have 
a  specimen.  Sweet  is  it  to  learn  that  so  many  of  these 
noble  men  died  as  they  had  lived,  in  the  same  faith 
and  holy  devotion  which  had  been  the  spring  of  their 
worldly  prudence  and  enterprise ;  leaving  to  their  pos- 
terity, in  the  same  instruments  which  conveyed  the  title 
to  their  lands  and  houses,  signed  and  sealed  before 
witnesses,  with  their  own  hands,  the  precious  legacy  of 
their  unshaken  piety. 

*  Patrick  Falconer  is  called  a  »i^rc7i<z?i<.  +  The  tomb-stone  of  this  most  active 

In  the  old  burying-ground  there  is  a  stone  and  useful  settler  is  still  standing,  and 

with  this  inscription :    "  Here  lyeth  the  bears  the  following  inscription : 

body  of  Patrick  Falconer,  who  died  June  "  Here  lyes  the  body  of  Mr.  Thomas 

27,  1692,  aged  33  years.  Johnson,  who  died  November  the  5, 1694, 

aged  64." 

"Here  lyeth  the  reliques  That  of  his  wife,  who  died  three  days 

Of  a  real  saint,  ^gfore  him,  is  also  standing,  and  is  in- 

Who  suflFered  much  for  Christ,  scribed  as  follows : 

And  did  not  faint;  «Here  Ives  the  body  of   Mrs.  Ellena 

AndTvhen  his  race  was  run,  Johnson,   who  died    November  2,   1694 

Endmg  his  story,  aged  61_>. 
He  sweetly  past  through  death  xhe  body  of  their  son  Joseph,  the  drum- 
To  endless  glory."  ^^^^  ^t^o  died  j^  ^^g^^  ^^  ^j^^  advanced 
(See  Monumental  Inscriptions  by  Dr.  age  of  83,  lies  not  far  oflF. 
John  S.  Gondii.) 


82  HOLY   DYING. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1672-3,  old  Matthew  Cam- 
field  "  sick  and  weak  in  body,"  records  as  his  dying  act 
of  self-devotion,  "I  give  my  body  to  the  dust,  and 
soul  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  In  early  June  follow- 
ing, the  green  turf  was  already  growing  over  the  last 
resting  place  of  this  venerable  patriarch.* 

Jasper  Crane,  senior,  shrewd,  enterprising,  ever  active 
old  Jasper,  on  the  first  day  of  October,  1678,  perceiv- 
ing that  he  had  made  his  last  earthly  settlement,  and 
had  but  one  remove  more  to  be  undertaken,  thus  de- 
clares his  determination  to  address  himself  to  his  dying 
duties,  "  I,  Jasper  Crane,  dwelling  within  the  province 
of  New  Jersey  belonging  to  the  town  of  Newark — 
being  aged  in  years  and  weak  in  body,  yet  well  in  un- 
derstanding and  memory — I  do  at  this  time  think  it 
my  Christian  duty  to  set  my  house  in  order,  and  I  do 
dispose  of  all  my  worldly  goods  as  foUoweth."  Some 
time  between  this  date  and  the  28th  of  October,  1681, 
this  veteran  pilgrim  crossed  the  river  on  his  way  to 
the  land  of  spirits.f 

Samuel  Swaine,  happening  to  be  in  New  York,  when 
disease  seized  him,  and  death  seemed  to  be  not  far, 
thus  testified  the  readiness  of  his  spirit  to  answer  the 
last  summons,   "  I,  Samuel   Swaine,  being  in  perfect 

*  He  died  between  the  date  given  above,  of  October  the  same  year,  it  is  probable 

and  the  6th  of  June  following. — ,S.  //.  Con-  that  he  died  not  far  from  the  date  of  the 

qar.  inventory.    Jasper  Crane,  Sen.,  had  four 

+  October  28th,  1681,  John  Ward  and  sons  Delivered,  or  Deliverance  as  it  is 

Thomas  Pierson  apprized   the  inventory  sometimes    written,   Azariah,   John,   and 

of    his    estate    as    presented    to    them  Jasper,  Jr.,  of  whom  the  first  three  were 

for  that   purpose  by  his  son.    Delivered  original  subscribers ;  and  the  last  became 

Crane,    and     his     son-in-law,     Thomas  hardly  less  distinguished  than  his  father 

Huntington.     As  his  name  appears  in  a  in   the  affairs  of  the  church  and   town, 

list  rendered  in  town  meeting,  by  a  com-  Delivered  Crane  died  early,  and  is  said  to 

mittee  previously  appointed,  on  the  19th  have  left  no  issue. 


HOLT   DYING.  83 

sense  and  memory,  not  knowing  how  long  tlie  Lord 
will  continue  the  same  mercy  to  me,  being  weak  under 
His  good  hand  of  Providence,  and  willing  to  be  at  His 
dispose ;  therefore,  for  life  or  death,  do  leave  this  as 
my  last  will  and  testament."* 

Next,  Richard  Lawrence,  perceiving  that  the  infirm- 
ities of  age  were  now  creeping  over  him,  made  his  last 
will  and  testament,  Dec.  10th,  1686,  acknowledging  in 
nearly  the  same  words  used  by  his  old  friend  Crane, 
the  summons  he  had  received  from  heaven,  "  to  set  his 
house  in  order."f  Old  Michael  Tompkins  "  being"  he 
said,  "infirm  in  body,  and  subject  to  many  changes, 
and  not  knowing  the  time  of  my  departure  out  of  the 
world,"  began  on  the  30th  day  of  January,  1688-9,  to 
get  his  affaii's  in  readiness.  Before  the  end  of  March, 
1691,  both  the  good  deacons  had  gone  to  their  long 
home.J 

John  Baldwin,  junior,§  Joseph  Biggs,!  '^^^^  Brown^ 

*  Samuel  Swaine  made  his  will  in  New  §  John  Baldwin,  Jr.'s,  will  is  dated  Dec. 
York,  the  I7th  of  March,  1G81-2.  It  may  21,  1688,  and  sworn  to  Nov.  28,  1689.  His 
be  presumed  perhaps  that  he  died  in  that  children  mentioned  in  the  will  are,  Han- 
illness,  as  his  name  appears  for  the  last  nah  Tichenor,  and  John,  j-et  under  age. 
time  on  the  records,  in  the  'list  made  in  He  mentions  William  Camp  as  his  uncle. 
1680.  His  wife  Johanna  died  prior  to  Dec.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  bears  date 
5, 1690.  Town  Records,  p.  87.  Town  Book,  Jan  30,  1688-9.  Town  Book,  p.  14. 
P-  35.  g  Joseph  Riggs's  will  bears  date  Jan.  1, 

+  Richard  Lawrence's  will  is  dated  the  1688-9,  and  was  sworn  to  Nov.  27,  1689. 

10th  of  December,   1686,   and  sworn   to  His  children  being  all  minors  were  left  in 

March  30th,  1691.   His  children  mentioned  the  care  of  their  mother,  to  whose  use  for 

in  the  will  are,  Bethiah,  wife  of  Stephen  herself  and  them  the  whole  estate  was  left 

Bond,  Mrs.  Bruen,  wife  of  John  Bruen,  and  during  their  minority,  except  two  guns 

Sarah,   to   whom  was  left  the  dwelling  and  one  sword.     Their  names  are  John, 

house  and  furniture.— Town  Book,  p.  10.  Samuel,    Zophar    and  Elizabeth.      After 

t  Michael  Tompkins  made  his  will  Jan.  their  mother's  decease,  John  was  to  have 

30,  168S-9,  which  was  sworn  to  by  his  ex-  the  homestead    Samuel  and  Zophar  the 

ecutors,  Dec.  4,  1690.    He  must  have  died  land  at  the  mountain,  and  Elizabeth  what- 

prior  to  the  latter  date.  His  children  men-  ever  her  mother  should  choose  to  bestow, 

tioned  in   his   will   are,  Jonathan,  Micah,  The   sword   and  hunting    gun   were   be- 

Seth,  Mary  Rose,  Abigal    Dalglesh,  and  queathed  to  John,  and  the  other  gun  given 

Elizabeth  Bishop.    (See  Town  Book,  p.  to  Samuel.    Town  Book,  p.  18. 

•^^•)  T  John  Browne's  will  is  dated  Decern- 


84  HOLT   DYING. 

and  David  Ogden,*  all  left  beliind  their  dying  testi- 
mony in  nearly  tlie  same  words.  "  First,  I  bequeath 
my  soul  unto  the  hands  of  Almighty  God,  hoping  for 
salvation  from  the  riches  of  His  grace,  by  the  alone 
merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  through  faith  in  His  blood. 
Also,  I  commit  my  body  to  the  earth,  decently  to  be 
buried,  and  there  to  rest  until  the  resurrection  of  the 
just." 

Nor  was  that  venerable  veteran,  Lieut.  Ward,  or 
John  Ward,  senior,  a  soldier,  not  of  his  country  only, 
but  of  his  Heavenly  Captain,  surprised  without  his 
armor  when  the  hour  came  for  his  last  conflict.  Nov. 
21st,  1694,  he  left  his  dying  testimony:  ^'-Imprimis. 
I  commit  my  soul  immortal  unto  God  who  gave  it,  to 
glorify  Him,  and  to  be  glorified  by  Him  for  ever  more. 
I  give  my  body  to  the  dust,  of  which  it  was  made,  to 
be  decently  and  honorably  buried,  in  hope  of  a  better 
resurrection  by  Jesus  Christ,  Who  shall  change  this 
vile,  frail,  and  corruptible  body  of  mine  into  the  like- 
ness of  His  own  glorious  body,  according  to  the  work- 
ing whereby  He  is  able  to  subdue  all  things  to  Him- 
self, that  so  I  may  be  ever  with  the  Lord,  which  is  far 
best  of  all."t 

Thus  calmly,  confidently  and  holily  did  the  patri- 

ber  17,  1689.     He  died  November  5, 1690.  Children  mentioned  are  David,  the  eldest, 

The    children    named    arc,    eldest    son  John,  Josiah,  and  Swaine.    His  wife,  Eliz- 

John,  Joseph,  Thomas,  Daniel  who  was  abeth  is  appointed  executrix.    Town  Book, 

to  have    the    homestead,   Esther,    Mary  p.  16. 

Pierson,  Hannah  Riggs,  Phcbe  Dod,  and        t  John  Ward,  Sen.,  or  Sergeant  Ward, 

Elizabeth  Freeman.    His  loving  brother,  afterwards  Lieut.    Ward,    when   in    the 

Ephraim  Burwell,  is  one  of  the  appointed  year  1672  Lieut.  Swaine  was  promoted  to 

overseers.    See  Town  Book,  p.  20.  the  captaincy,  probably  died  not  far  from 

*  David  OgJen's  will  is  dated  Dec.  26,  Nov.  20,  1694,  the  date  of  his  will.     (Rec- 

1691,  and  sworn   to   Feb.  27th,   1691-2.  ords  at  Trenton,  copied  by  Mr.  Congar.) 


SACRED   GROUND.  85 

archs  of  tMs  community  pass  away  from  tlie  turmoils 
of  tlie  world.  Fit  epilogue  for  sucli  a  di^ama  as  they 
liad  been  enacting !     Fit  end  for  such  a  life  as  theirs ! 

"  So  fades  a  summer's  cloud  away, 
So  sinks  the  gale  when  storms  are  o'er; 
So  gently  shuts  the  eye  of  day, 
So  dies  a  wave  along  the  shore." — Mrs.  Baebauld. 

The  wastes  of  time  have  not  left  us  the  departing 
words  of  most  of  the  others ;  but  doubtless  what  we 
have  here  is  but  a  sample  of  t\e  entire  community. 
Dear,  honored  sires !  No  costly  monument  crowns 
the  turf  where  they  slumber,  and  no  pretentious  pan- 
egyric has  aj)plauded  their  merits.  All  unconsciously, 
and  only  in  the  records  of  their  ordinary  business 
transactions,  they  wrote  from  day  to  day  their  own 
memoii's,  epitaphs  and  eulogy.  Thrice  hallowed  be 
the  spot  where  their  honored  dust  moulders.  Some 
old  mortality  come  yearly  and  with  pious  care  remove 
the  gathering  moss  from  their  headstones.  Let  the 
turf  be  green,  and  the  choicest  foliage  wave  its  shad- 
ows above  it.  Let  it  be  sacred  to  piety  and  filial 
reverence,  and  no  unhallowed  foot  intrude  within  its 
enclosure.  Let  the  ground  be  made  the  most  beauti- 
ful and  attractive  in  our  city,  as  it  is  the  most  replete 
with  holy  memories ;  and  let  the  generations,  as  they 
rise,  learn  to  hold  in  special  honor  and  affection,  the 
old  graveyard  where  the  fathers  lie  waiting  for  the 
resurrection  of  the  just ! 

But  I  am  perhaps  dwelling  too  long  on  these  pathetic 
memorials.  It  only  remains  that  I  record  the  closing 
event  of  this  period,  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 


86 


DISMISSION    OF   THE   MINISTER. 


relations  of  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  junior.  The 
removal  of  so  many  of  the  first  settlers  had  doubtless 
operated  to  change  in  some  degree,  the  public  senti- 
ment of  the  community,  and  meanwhile  a  new  race 
had  sprung  up,  and  new  elements  from  abroad  come 
in  to  modify  it  still  further.  But  however  that  may 
be,  dissatisfaction  arose  at  length  between  the  people 
and  the  pastor,  out  of  some  differences  of  views  respect- 
ing Church  government,  the  precise  nature  and  merits 
of  which  cannot  now  be  determined.  Mr.  Pierson,  it 
seems,  was  not  pleased  with  the  strictly  Congregational 
plan  on  which  the  Church  had  been  settled,  but  pre- 
ferred a  moderate  form  of  Presbyterian  government.* 


*  Dr.  Macwhorter  says,  in  his  manu- 
script history,  that  Mr.  Pierson,  after  his 
father's  death,  "was  for  introducing  more 
rigid  Presbyterianism  into  Newark,  in 
which  he  was  encouraged  by  four  men  from 
Scotland,  who  had  fled  from  the  persecu- 
tions and  troubles  there  under  Charles  II. 
Their  names  were  Young,  Nesbit,  Clisby, 
and  Douglass,  who  for  their  zeal  and  piety 
had  been  admitted  by  the  first  settlers  to 
great  privileges  in  the  town.  Meanwhile," 
he  adds,  "in  the  progress  of  the  settle- 
ment, many  had  come  to  the  place  from 
Connecticut,  with  strong  habits  in  favor 
of  the  Saybrook  platform,  from  whence 
arose  an  opposition  to  Mr.  Abraham  Pier- 
son, and  his  measures  and  party,  so  that 
he  finally  thought  it  expedient  to  leave 
the  town,  and  remove."  Several  errors 
are  to  be  noticed  in-  this  statement. 

In  the  first  place,  Presbyterianism 
in  New  England  at  that  day  did  not 
stand  related  to  Congregatisnalism,  as 
the  more  rigid,  but  as  the  less  rigid 
system.  The  party  who  were  accused 
of  Presbyterian  leanings,  were  those 
who  opposed  the  Puritan  plan  of  restrict- 
ing the  privileges  of  baptism  and  church 
membership.  Such  was  the  case  with 
}1t.  Stone  of  Hartford,  and  Mr.  Russel  of 


Weathersfield,  both  of  whom  led  the  way  in 
calling  the  Council  of  1657,  with  which  the 
New  Haven  men  were  so  much  displeased ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  those  who 
strenuously  insisted  on  the  restrictions  re- 
ferred to,  among  whom  in  Connecticut 
were  Governor  Webster  and  the  other  ag- 
grieved brethren  of  Mr.  Stone's  church 
pursued  their  opposition  in  the  name  of 
strict  and  original  Congregationalism.  It 
is  in  accordance  with  this  view  that  we 
find  a  Scotchman  writing  to  his  friends 
from  New  Perth,  in  1664,  commending 
the  people  of  East  Jersey,  as  very  much 
like  the  Presbyterians,  "only,"  he  says 
"  they  will  not  receive  every  one  into 
their  society." 

In  the  next  place,  those  who  came  from 
Connecticut  prior  to  Mr.  Pierson's  dismis- 
sion, in  1692,  could  not  have  come  "with 
strong  habits  in  favor  of  the  Saybrook 
Platform,"  since  that  Plaiform  did  not 
come  into  being  till  1708,  sixteen  years 
later;  nor,  if  it  had,  would  those  who 
were  inclined  to  favor  it,  have  been  op- 
posed to  Mr.  Pierson's  innovations  on  that 
account,  as  the  Saybrook  Platform  was 
nearer  to  his  views  than  the  previous 
practice. 

There   is,   furthermore,  some  apparent 


CAUSES   OF   DISSATISFACTI01S-.  8*7 

Unquestionably  lie  was  not  extreme  in  tliese  prefer- 
ences, as  Ms  Avliole  character  and  subsequent  life  indi- 
cate. Where  the  blame  lay  we  are  not  competent  to 
determine.  Dr.  Macwborter  throws  it  chiefly  on  the 
pastor,  though  the  merciless  edge  of  his  sarcasm  does 
not  spare  the  people.  "  Matters  were  peaceable  in  the 
town,"  he  says,  "and  went  well  in  the  Church  while 
the  father  lived,  but  soon  after  his  death  some  became 
uneasy  with  the  young  man.  His  abilities,  and  the 
pride  of  directing  were  far  beyond  any  thing  that  the 
conofrea^ation  had  been  accustomed  to  witness."*  But 
Mr.  Dickenson,  of  Elizabethtown,  who  undoubtedly 
knew  the  facts,  as  he  was  a  pupil  of  Mr.  Pierson  in 
Yale  College,  and  graduated  under  his  presidency,  as- 
cribes it  to  an  unreasonable  jealousy  on  the  part  of 
the  people.  In  reply  to  some  reflections  on  the  conduct 
of  the  Presbyterians  by  an  Episcopal  minister,  after 

misapprebension    in    Dr.    Macwhorter's  ter's  statement  respecting  the  meeting  of 

statement  respecting-  the  emigrants  from  two  contradictory  elements — from  the  old 

Scotland.     Excepting  Douglass,  none   of  hive  in  Connecticut  on  the  one  band,  and 

the  names  mentioned    appears    in    any  from  Scotland  on  the   other,  and  its  in- 

list  of    settlers,  or  in   any    town   trans-  fluence  in  producing  division  and  dissatis- 

actions,    until    about    the    time    of   Mr.  faction  in  the    Church— is    substantially 

Pierson's  dismission.    The  name  of  Rob-  correct,  notwithstanding  the  errors  of  its 

ert   Young  first  appears  in  the  records  details. 

in  1690.    James  Clisby  was  admitted  a  *  Century  Sermon,  p.  10.    The  spirit  of 

planter  in  March,  1693-4.     Dr.  M.'s  Cen.  this  statement  is  manifestly  incorrect.    Mr. 

tury  Sermon   gives   1670  as   the  date  of  Pierson  was  neither  as  far  superior  in  abil- 

their  arrival  in  Newark ;  but  if  they  were  ities  to  his  father,  nor  as  far  inferior  in 

here  so  soon,  they  certainly  could  not  have  other  respects  as  this  would  imply.     Nor 

been  "  admitted  to  great  privileges  in  the  was  he  at  this  time  entitled  to  be  called  a 

town"  till  a  much  later  day.    None  of  their  young  man,  having  reached   the  mature 

names,  except  that  of  Douglass,  appear  age  of  37  years  when  his  father  died,  and 

among  the  signers  of  the  agreement  to  that  of  fifty-one  or  two  at  the  time  of  his 

pay  Mr.  Pierson's  salary,  when  there  was  dismissal.     Dr.   M.   is  mistaken,   too,  in 

a  difficulty  respecting  that  matter  in  1688.  supposing  him   to  have   been   dismissed 

Scotchmen  however  were  here,  and  one  of  soon  after  his   father's   decease.    During 

them,  probably,  viz.,  John  Cockburn,  was  at  least  ten  years  of  his  sole  pastorate  we 

among  those  signers.    On  the  whole,  how-  hear  not  a  note  of  disturbance  or  disaflfec- 

ever,  it  seems  probable  that  Dr.  Macwhor-  tion. 


88  CAUSES   OF  DISSATISFACTION. 

speaking  of  tlie  harmonious  co-operation  of  Congrega- 
tionalists  and  Presbyterians  in  New  England,  "who 
have  always,"  he  says,  "  lived  together  as  united 
brethren,"  he  thus  refers  to  the  case  now  before  us : 
"  Some  of  the  people  of  Newark  have,  indeed  formerly, 
been  culpable  for  managing  a  controversy  with  their 
worthy  minister  upon  these  points,  and  I  .hope  your 
putting  them  in  mind  of  it,  may  conduce  to  their  hu- 
miliation, if  there  be  any  of  them  yet  living.  But 
then  they  did  not  imitate  the  disposition  of  the  people 
of  New  England  in  this  opposition  to  that  worthy  gen- 
tleman, who  removed  from  their  abuses  to  New  Eng- 
gland,  was  there  received  with  great  kindness  and 
love,  and  advanced  to  the  rectoral  charge  of  their  col- 
lege, in  which  he  lived  and  died  in  the  highest  honor 
and  esteem  among  them  all,  notwithstanding  his  Pres- 
byterian j)rinciples.  In  a  word,  as  both  Presbyterians 
and  Congregationalists  were  from  the  beginning  em- 
barked upon  the  same  bottom,  so  have  they  yet  reason 
to  conclude,  notwithstanding  their  lesser  trifling  differ- 
ences in  their  sentiments,  that  they  have  all  the  same 
common  interests  to  pursue." 

It  is  not  improbable  that  the  truth  lay  somewhere 
between  these  two  apparently  opposite  judgments. 
The  people  were  liable,  from  their  early  history  to  be 
too  strenuous  on  points  of  ecclesiastical  government ; 
and  the  minister  may  have  erred  in  attempting  to  in- 
troduce in  such  a  community,  modifications  for  which 
the  body  of  the  people  were  not  prepared. 

Traces  of  the  dissatisfaction  may  perhaps  be  detected 
in  the  records  of  the  town,  wherein  it  appears  that  on 


CAUSES    OF   DISSATISFACTION. 


89 


one  occasion  tlie  usual  vote  to  collect  the  pastor's  sal- 
ary "  by  a  rate,"  was  afterwards  "  desisted  from,"  and 
recourse  had  to  a  voluntary  contribution;  and  that 
during  the  last  two  years  of  his  ministry,  the  amount 
agreed  upon  was  not  collected  in  any  way.*  It  is  due, 
however,  to  the  honor  of  the  town  to  add,  that  not- 
withstanding this  temporary  stopping  of  the  supplies, 
all  arrearages  were  collected  and  paid  in  full  after  his 
dismission.f 


*  "  Jan.  2, 1687-8.  Item^The  way  of 
rating  as  formerly,  which  was  after  desist- 
ed from,  and  agreed  to  pay  the  minister 
by  contribution  for  the  year  1687." 

"  Jan.  9,  1687-8.  It  is  fully  and  unani- 
mously consented  unto  by  every  planter 
now  present,  all  being  called  by  name, 
that  they  will  from  time  to  time  pay  or 
cause  to  be  paid  yearly,  in  their  full  pro- 
portion, equally,  in  a  rate  that  may  be 
agreed  on  by  the  major  part  of  the  town, 
to  the  maintenance  and  allowance  now 
agreed  upon  for  the  upholdmg  and  preach- 
ing of  the  Word  in  our  town,  and  eighty 
pounds  by  the  year  is  agreed  upon  to  be 
allowed  to  the  present  minister,  with  his 
fire-wood,  and  to  be  rate  free.  A^ote — It  is 
to  be  understood  that  every  man  that  doth 
now  subscribe  to  this  agreement,  he  pay- 
ing his  proportion  in  the  rate,  shall  not  be 
liable  to  be  prosecuted  to  make  payment 
for  any  that  may  be  deficient  in  non-pay- 
ment. In  confirmation  whereof,  we  have 
hereunto  set  our  names.  John  Ward,  sen., 
John  Bruen,  Thos.  Johnson,  Samuel  Free- 
man, John  Curtis,  John  Baldwin,  jr.,  Seth 
Tompkins,  Micah  Tompkins,  Sam'l  Tiche- 
Dor,  Edw.  Ball,  Edw.  Riggs,  Sam'l  Kitchel, 
John  Cockburn,  Anthony  Oliff,  Joseph 
Riggs,  Theophilus  Pierson,  Azariah  Crane, 
Samuel  Harrison,  Daniel  Dod,  Stephen 
Davis,  Samuel  Plum,  sen.,  John  Crane, 
Nathaniel  Ward,  John  Browne,  sen.,  Zech- 
ariah  Burwell,  Kphraim  Burwell,  Thomas 
Browne,  John  Tichcnor,  Joseph  Browne, 
John  Browne,  jr.,  Joseph  Walters,  Eben- 
ezer  Camfield,  Matthew  Camfield,  Robert 


Dalglesh,  Francis  Lindly,  Samuel  Pierson, 
Jasper  Crane,  Joseph  Harrison,  Thomas 
Pierson,  Samuel  Dod,  George  Harrison, 
Samuel  Lyon,  Thomas  Richards,  David 
Ogden,  Samuel  Rose,  Richard  Lawrence, 
Jonathan  Sargeant,  John  Baldwin,  sen., 
Hans  Albers,  Jonathan  Tompkins,  Joseph 
Johnson." 

"Town  meeting,  April  2,  1692.  It  is 
voted  that  Mr.  Pierson  shall  be  paid  his 
salary  for  that  time  which  no  rates  have 
been  made  proportionable  to  the  rate 
made  for  two  years  together,  viz. :  '83  and 
'89."     Town  Records,  pp.  Ill,  112,  116. 

t  The  period  above  referred  to  was  one 
of  great  political  disorder.  Sir  Edmund 
Andros  had  received  a  commission  as 
Governor  of  all  New  England,  including 
New  York  and  New  Jersey.  He  assumed 
the  government  of  this  Province  in  1688, 
the  Proprietors  having  made  a  formal  sur- 
render of  their  patent  to  King  James  on  the 
condition  that  their  rights  to  the  soil  should 
be  respected.  Of  this  event  several  old 
deeds  and  wills  of  the  Newark  people 
bear  witness,  by  being  dated  at  "Newark, 
in  the  government  of  New  England." 
(See  Newark  "  Town  Book.")  But  the 
Revolution  iu  England  had  led  to  the 
seizure  of  Andros,  and  the  subversion  of 
his  ofiensive  government  in  New  Eng- 
land. Deputy  Governor  Hamilton  doubt- 
ing about  his  powers,  had  gone  to  England 
for  instructions.  Governors  were  appoint- 
ed whom  the  people  "scrupled  to  obey," 
and  during  several  years,  viz.,  from  1689 
to  1692,  they  were  left  without  any  gov- 


90  CHARACTER    OF   ABRAHAM   PIERSON,    JUNIOR. 

The  date  of  this  event  was  somewhere  between  the 
23d  of  January,*  and  the  2d  of  April  in  the  year 
1692.  Immediately  afterwards,  Mr.  Pierson  sold  his 
house  and  lands  in  Newark,  and  returned  to  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Kil- 
lingworth,  in  the  year  1694.  A  few  years  later,  on 
the  institution  of  Yale  College,  he  was  appointed  its 
first  rector,  and  his  people  being  unwilling  to  part 
with  him,  the  trustees  established  the  college  tempora- 
rily at  Killingworth,  where  he  continued  in  the  exer- 
cise of  both  offices  till  his  death,  which  took  place  on 
the  5th  of  March,  1707,  in  the  sixty-sixth  or  sixty- 
seventh  year  of  his  age.f 

The  character  of  Mr.  Pierson  seems  to  have  fallen 
in  no  respect  behind  that  of  his  excellent  father. 
Trumbull  says  of  him — "  He  had  the  character  of  a 
hard  student,  a  good  scholar,  and  a  great  divine.  In 
his  whole  conduct  he  was  wise,  steady  and  amiable.  He 
was  greatly  respected  as  a  pastor,  and  he  instructed 
and  governed  the  College  with  general  approbation." 
There  is  no  doubt  that  he  was  a  thorough  Calvinist, 
or  he  would  not  have  been  appointed  as  the  first  Pres- 
ident or  Rector  of  Yale  College.     An   early  tradition 

eminent  whatsoever,  except  that  of  their  the  following  :  "  It  is  voted,  that  the  sol- 
own  local  authorities.  Of  the  troubled  diers  be  paid  their  wages  for  the  time 
state  of  affairs  the  Newark  Town  Records  they  were  out."  How  much  infinence 
show  tokens  in  the  vote  of  March  25th,  these  disorders  may  have  had  in  discour- 
1689-90,  already  referred  to,  appointing  a  aging  the  people  in  their  ecclesiastical  af- 
committee  "to  order  all  affairs  in  as  pni-  fairs,  must  be  left  to  conjecture.  (See 
dent  a  way  as  they  can  for  the  safety  of  Whitehead,  pp.  112-181.  Newark  Town 
ourselves,  wives,  children  and  estates,  ac-  Book.  Newark  Town  Records.) 
cording  to  the  capacity  we  are  in  ;"  and  at  *  See  Patrick  Falconer's  will, 
the  beginning  of  the  next  year,  we  find  f  Trumbull,  vol.  1,  p.  488. 


CONCLUSION.  91 

represents  him  as  an  excellent  preacher,  and  an  ex- 
ceedingly pious  and  good  man ;  and  particularly  as 
"  very  kind  and  charitable  to  the  poor  and  indigent, 
who  in  a  special  manner  lamented  his  death."* 

Such  were  the  beginnings,  and  such  the  men  who 
made  the  beginnings  of  this  ancient  Church  and  con- 
gregation. It  was  my  intention  to  pursue  the  sketch, 
and  bring  it  down  near  to  the  present  time.  But  the 
matter  has  so  grown  upon  my  hand,  that  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  defer  the  rest  to  some  other  opportunity. 

Let  me  close  to-day  with  one  or  two  reflections  sug- 
gested alike  by  the  text,  the  subject  of  discourse,  and 
the  present  occasion. 

"  One  generation  passeth  away."  So  we  find  it. 
"The  fathers"  of  this  Church,  "where  are  they,  and  its 
prophets,  do  they  live  for  ever  V  All  who  shared  in 
its  early  toils  have  been  done  with  earth  more  than  a 
century,  and  their  memories  we  are  able  to  restore 
only  from  obscure  vestiges.  Even  the  generation 
which  stood  here  when  the  aged  Macwhorter  sum- 
moned his  flock  fifty  years  ago,  to  "  consider  the  days 

*  In  a  letter,  said  to  have  been  written  bers  that  he  was  a  very  kind,  charitable 
to  President  Stiles  of  Yale  College,  in  1783,  man  to  the  poor  and  indigent,  who  in  a 
"  by  Abr'm  Pierson,  son  of  Ab'm  Pierson,  special  manner  lamented  his  death.  She 
son  of  Rector  Pierson,  son  of  Abr'm  Pier-  also  remembers  his  having  care  of  a  col- 
son,  pastor  of  a  Church  on  L.  I.,"  it  is  lege."  Lambert  says,  p.  151,  "After  Mr. 
said,  "that  an  aged  woman  of  ninety  states  Pierson  graduated,  and  before  he  settled 
that  she  has  seen  said  Mr.  Abraham  Pier-  in  Newark,  he  resided  for  some  months  in 
son,  and  heard  him  preach  often,  lie  was  Milford,  and  it  is  thought  pursued  his  the- 
something  taller  than  a  middle  size,  a  ological  studies  with  Mr.  Newton.  He 
fleshy,  well  formed  and  comely  looking  married  while  in  Milford,  Abigal  Clark, 
man  ;  and  she  remembers  that  the  people  daughter  of  George  Clark,  farmer,  and 
set  very  much  by  him,  and  esteemed  him  sister  of  Sarah,  the  mother  of  Governor 
an  exceeding  pious  good  man,  and  an  ex-  Law." 
cellent  preacher.    Particularly  she  remem- 


92  CONCLUSION. 

of  old  and  tlie  years  of  ancient  times,"  where  are  they 
now  ?  Almost  all  gone !  And  is  the  generation  of 
which  we  form  a  part  destined  to  a  diiferent  lot  ?  The 
dying  of  another  year,  another  half  century,  speaks  to 
us  of  dying  time,  dying  opportunities,  a  dying  life ! 
We  are  all  going,  and  if  not  prepared  for  our  depart- 
ure soon,  it  is  very  certain  that  we  never  shall  be. 

But  we  are  reminded  also  by  the  same  sacred  Word 
that  "another  generation  cometh."  The  world  will 
not  cease  its  course  because  we  are  gone.  Other  forms 
will  occupy  this  house  of  prayer,  other  voices  will 
sound  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary,  and  another  tongue 
will  speak  of  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  point  the  way  to 
heaven  in  this  pulpit.     At  least  so  we  trust  it  may  be. 

So  it  will  be,  through  God's  grace  and  Providence, 
if  we  are  faithful  in  the  work  assigned  us.  Even  now 
we  see  the  young  plants  scattered  among  us,  who  will 
flourish  as  we  trust,  when  we  are  removed,  strong, 
healthful,  fair  and  fruit  producing  trees  in  the  garden 
of  our  God.  Another  generation  cometh!  Alas, 
many  of  the  present  race  of  men  have  had  the  offer  of 
salvation  and  rejected  it;  and  even  the  professed  chris- 
tians of  the  present  age  are  far  below  the  true  mark, 
both  in  the  intensity  and  the  completeness  of  their 
piety.  Let  them  pass  away  then,  if  it  must  be  so,  and 
a  new  and  better  era  dawn  upon  the  Church  and  the 
world.  Another  generation  cometh  !  O  yes,  and  we 
will  take  courage,  as  we  see  their  glowing  counte- 
nances intent  on  listening  to  the  Word  of  Life  in  the 
sanctuary,  in  the  Sabbath  school,  and  at  the  family 
altar,  in  the  hope  that  they  will  prove  themselves  a 


CONCLUSION-.  93 

^urer,  holier,  more  completely  Christian  race  of  men 
than  were  any  of  their  fathers.  So  shall  the  promise 
be  secured  to  us,  "  The  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall 
be  greater  than  of  the  former,  saith  the  Lord  of 
Hosts." 


I 


m 


r/?? 


VA  un^ry:?  //^^-^ 


w 


DISCOURSE    NUMBER   II. 

EccLESiASTES,  1 :  4.    One  generation  passeth  away  and  another  generation  cometh. 

Some  may  ask,  wliere  is  tlie  propriety  of  inquiring 
so  minutely  into  the  experience  of  long  buried  gene- 
rations. Since  "  their  love,  and  their  hatred,  and  their 
envy  have  now  perished,  neither  have  they  any  more 
a  portion  for  ever  in  any  thing  that  is  done  under  the 
sun,"  why  not  let  their  names  and  their  history  too 
pass  into  oblivion  ? 

We  reply,  the  seeds  of  the  present  are  to  be  found 
in  the  past.  The  world,  with  all  its  circumstances, 
opinions,  customs,  laws,  ruling  our  present  condition 
and  shaping  our  future  destiny,  are  what  they  are  in 
consequence  of  the  actions  and  characters  of  those  who 
have  gone  before  us.  We  ourselves  are  what  we  are, 
because  of  influences  which  have  distilled  upon  us,  like 
the  silent  dew,  through  the  atmosphere  of  a  thousand 
generations.  In  the  past  therefore  we  have  a  practical 
interest,  and  must  look  narrowly  at  its  characters  and 
events,  in  order  to  understand  well  either  our  circum- 
stances or  ourselves. 

In  the  former  discourse  we  traced  the  history  of  this 


96  SECOND    GENERATION. 

congregation  tlirougli  tlie  first  quarter  of  a  century  of 
its  existence.  We  come  now  to  a  period  in  wliich  the 
means  of  information  are  less  abundant,  and  tlie  e\'i- 
dence  of  prosperity  in  the  congregation  less  steady  and 
unequivocal.  The  generation  of  the  first  settlers  was 
fast  passing  away.  A  few  names  already  familiar  to 
us,  are  still  found  among  the  leaders  of  the  commu- 
nity,* but  its  affairs  have  chiefly  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  children,  or  of  those  who,  when  the  settlement 
was  begun,  were  recorded  under  the  designation  of 
"  young  men."f  Azariah  Crane,  only  twenty  years  of 
age  when  he  signed  the  fundamental  agreement,  was 
now,  I  suppose,  the  deacon  of  the  Church ;  and  his  broth- 
er, Jasper,  then  too  young  to  be  mentioned  in  the  pub- 
lic affairs,  had  become  one  of  the  most  active  citizens. 
John  Treat,  son  of  the  chivalric  Captain  Robert,  and 
brother-in-law  of  Deacon  Crane,  then  only  seventeen 
years  of  age,  was  now  prominent  among  the  "  towns- 
men," and  with  Jasper  Crane,  junior,  serving  from  year 
to  year  as  a  representative  of  the  town  in  the  Provin- 
cial Legislature.  John  Curtis,  who  was  twenty-five 
years  old  at  that  time,  had  become  one  of  the  most  re- 
spected fathers  of  the  community.  Jonathan  Sargeant 
and  Daniel  Dod,  then  likewise  among  the  "  young  men" 

*  Among  the  old  men  who  still  took  "  the  town  agreed  that  a  rate  of  £80  should 

part  in  public  affairs  at  the  beginning  of  be  made  for  the  minister  forthwith  for  the 

this  period,  were  Mr.  Ward,  who  died  year  past  by  Deacon  Ward  and  Mr.  Samuel 

soon  after,  Mr.  Thomas  Johnson,  Thomas  Kitchell,"  direction  was  given  to  the  same 

Luddington,  Zechariah  and  Ephraim  Bur-  oiEcial  worthies  that  they  should  "  speak 

well,  Thomas  Richards,  Edward  Ball,  Ben-  to  the  young  men  in  our  town  that  are  for 

jamin  Baldwin,  William  Camp,  andThom-  themselves,  and  to  see  what  they  will  vol- 

as  Pierson,  senior.  untarily  pay  to  the  minister."— Records, 

+  When  the  salary  of  good  old  Abraham  p.   9.     Among  the  number  so  designated 

Pierson,  senior,  was  fixed  in  1668,  and  were  several  of  the  names  above  men- 
tioned. 


REV.    JOHN    PRUDDEN.  97 

were  now  high  in  office  and  influence ;  and  the  frequent 
recurrence  in  all  important  matters,  of  the  names  of 
Samuel  and  Joseph  Harrison,  Theophilus  Pierson,  Jo- 
seph Johnson,  Seth  Tompkins,  Nathaniel  Ward,  Jabez 
Rogers,  reminds  us  of  the  prophetic  promise,  "  instead 
of  thy  fathers  shall  be  thy  children."  In  the  progress 
of  this  history  we  shall  have  less  occasion  hereafter  to 
speak  either  of  individuals,  or  of  the  community  in  its 
civil  and  social  relations. 

The  next  minister  was  the  Rev.  John  Prudden,  who 
was  called  to  the  office  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  and  sig- 
nified his  acceptance  of  the  invitation  with  its  terms, 
at  the  town  meeting,  August  23,  1692.  The  choice 
appears  to  have  been  unanimous  and  cordial.  "  It  was 
consulted,  consented  and  unanimously  agreed,"  says  the 
record,  "  that  Mr.  John  Prudden  should  be  called  to  be 
their  minister,"  and  in  testimony  of  their  disposition  to 
show  all  due  respect  to  the  sacred  office,  notwithstand- 
ing any  adverse  inferences  which  might  be  drawn  from 
the  untimely  dissolution  of  the  former  ministerial  con- 
nection,, the  people  covenanted  that  "  in  case  he  should 
come  and  settle  among  them  in  that  work,  they  would 
freely  and  readily  submit  themselves  to  him  and  to  his 
dispensations  and  administrations,  from  time  to  time,  in 
the  discharge  of  his  ministerial  office,  as  God  should 
assist  and  direct  him  therein  by  His  Word  and  Spirit, 
for  their  spiritual  good  and  edification."* 

Mr.  Prudden  was  a  College  classmate  of  his  imme- 
diate predecessor,    Abraham    Pierson,   junior,    and  a 

•  Town  Records,  pp.  116, 17. 


9'8  KEV.    JOHN    PRUDDEN. 

fellow  townsman,  and  doubtless  an  intimate  compan- 
ion, in  his  boyhood,  of  a  large  portion  of  the  original 
inhabitants  of  Newark.*  His  father  was  the  E.ev.  Pe- 
ter Prudden,  a  genuine  Puritan,  born  and  educated  in 
England,  where  he  began  to  preach ;  and,  about  three 
years  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  having  declined 
several  invitations  to  settle  in  Massachusetts,  was  or- 
dained as  the  first  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Milford  on 
the  18th  of  April,  1640.  Trumbull  says  of  him,  that 
"  his  ministry  was  attended  with  uncommon  success  ; 
and  when  he  came  to  this  country  it  seems  that  many 
good  people  followed  him,  that  they  might  enjoy  his 
ministrations.  He  had  the  character  of  a  most  zealous 
preacher  and  a  man  of  most  excellent  spirit.  He  had 
a  singular  talent  for  reconciling  contending  parties, 
and  mantaining  peace  among  brethren  and  neigh- 
bors."f 

The  younger  Prudden  was  the  second  son  in  a  nu- 
merous family  J — born  at  Milford,  Nov.  9,  1645,  and 
left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  excellent  father,  at 
the  early  age  of  11  years.  Graduating  at  Harvard 
College  in  the  year  1668,  he  was  invited,  in  the  Spring 
of  1670,  to  preach  for  the  term  of  one  year  in  Jamaica, 
Long  Island,  where  "  a  convenient  pew"  was  ordered 
by  the  town  to  l)e  built  for  him  to  preach  in.  There 
he  remained,  officiating  under  a  temporary  arrange- 
ment, till  January  1674,  when,  regarding  himself  as 
under  no  obligation  to  continue  his  services,  he  quietly 

*  See  Harvard  College  Calalofjue;  also        ].  Thompson's  Hist.  Loug  Island,  vol.  ii, 
Lambert  Uist.  Col.  New  Haven,  p.  152.         p.  102. 
t  History  of  Conn.,  vol.  i,  p.  294. 


EEV.    JOTTN    PRUDDEK  99 

told  the  people  lie  was  engaged  to  another  congrega- 
gation,  and  took  Lis  leave.*  After  an  absence  of 
about  two  years,  more  effectual  and  permanent  provis- 
ions having  been  made  for  his  support,  he  resumed  his 
labors  and  continued  in  the  service  of  the  Church  in 
Jamaica  till  1691,  a  short  time  before  his  removal  to 
Newark. 

It  has  been  said  that  on  his  coming  to  this  place, 
perhaps  in  consequence  of  it,  "  the  town  received  an- 
other large  accession  of  people  from  Milford."f  The 
records  of  Newark  show,  that  not  long  after  this 
event,  a  company  of  eleven  men — one  of  whom,  James 
Clisby,  was  a  Scotchman,  and  four  others  Dutchmen, 
if  we  may  judge  from  their  names — were  on  the  same 
day  admitted  as  planters.  J 

About  this  time  the  old  meeting-house,  constructed 
originally,  as  we  must  suppose,  in  not  the  most  durable 
manner,  was  needing  considerable  repairs.  As  early 
as  November,  1688,  the  townsmen  had  received  direc- 
tions to  get  it  repaired,  so  as  "  to  keep  out  the  wet  and 
cold  for  the  present,  and  also  to  repair  the  seats  and 
provide  cedar  shingles  to  cover  it,  when  the  Spring 
comes  suitable."     But,  it  is  very  likely,  that  when  the 

*  Prime's  Hist.  Long  Island,  p.  313.  1693.    John  Cooper  first  appears  in  1694; 

+  Lambert's  Hist.  New  Haven,  p.  152.  James  Nutraan  in  1695  ;    Thomas   Hayes 

X  Mar.  5, 1693-4.  Newark  Town  Records,  in  1G96  ;  Samuel  Ailing,  called  afterwards 

p.  120.     The  persons  above  referred  to  are  Lieut.  Samuel  Ailing,  or  Samuel  All  ing, 

Joseph  Wood,    Caleb    Ward,    Hendrick  Esq.,  father  of  the  Deacon  of  the  same 

Hendrickson,  Tunis  Johnson,  Hans  Hen-  name,  came  in  1798  ;  Joseph  Peck  in  1699  ; 

drickson,  Bostjan  Vangiese,  Garret  Lay-  John  Medlis  in  1700.     The  Tuttles— Ste- 

dicker,  Elcazar  Lampson,  James  Clisbe,  phen,  Joseph   and  Timothy,   children  of 

Jonathan   Ticlienor  and   William  Brant.  Stephen  Tuttlc,  of  Woodbridge— appear 

Other  prominent  individuals  were  added  in  Newark  in  the  year  17'25. — *'.  II.  Congar. 
about  the  same  period.  Robert  Young  I  find  nothing  in  the  Records  to  sub- 
had  leave  given  him  to  purchase  land  in  stantiate  the  above  statement  of  Lambert. 


100  REV.    JOHN    PRUDDEN. 

Spring  came,  the  pressing  necessity  was  less  felt ;  for 
it  is  not  till  after  the  lapse  of  four  years,  when  the 
settlement  of  a  new  minister  may  have  given  a  new 
spring  to  parochial  enterprise,  that  the  actual  procur- 
ing of  seven  hundred  shingles  for  the  purpose,  gives 
the  first  token  that  the  work  is  to  be  performed  in 
good  earnest.* 

The  salary  assigned  to  Mr.  Prudden  was  much 
smaller  than  that  of  either  of  his  predecessors,  and  de- 
notes either  a  decay  of  pecuniary  means,  or  of  the  spirit 
of  liberality  and  love  for  the  institutions  of  the  gospel, 
on  the  part  of  the  people.f  It  was  fifty  pounds  an- 
nually, and  "  his  firewood  free."  However,  the  town 
took  care  to  pay  the  expenses  of  his  transportation, 
and  provided  for  him  "  accommodations  ;"  that  is,  as 
the  word  was  then  understood,  a  dwelling-house,  with 
its  appurtenances,  and  the  lot  of  land  occupied  by  it. 
These  were  given  him,  on  certain  easy  conditions,  as 
his  own  property  ;  and  "  a  rate"  having  been  ordered, 
to  raise  the  sum  necessary  for  the  purpose,  two  com- 
mittees were  appointed,  the  one  to  put  him  in  posses- 
sion of  the  before  named  accommodations,  and  the 
other,  consisting  of  two  divisions,  corresponding  to  the 
two  ends  of  the  town,  north  and  south,  "  for  to  see  af- 
ter the  bringing  of  the  wood  to  Mr.  Prudden,  and  for 

*  Town  Record?,  pp.  113, 118.    "Thom-  hath  liberty  to  set  up  a  saw-mill,  with 

as  Brown  500,  Jasper  Crane  200  of  shin-  liberty  to  have  use  of  timber  in  any  com- 

glcs  for  the  meeting  house."  mon  lands,  provided  he  shall  let  any  of  the 

+  That  the  spirit  of  self-interest  was  in  inhabitants  have  boards  a*-  c/im/) as  others, 

pretty  vigorous  exercise  about  this  period,  and  before  strangers."    Town  Records,  p. 

take  the    following    indication:     "Town  121. 
meeting,  June  19,  1695.    Thomas  Davis 


EEV,    JOHN    PRUDDEN. 


101 


to  call  out  tlie  people  for  tliat  purpose  whenever  there 
is  need  for  his  supply  therein."* 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Prudden  was  short — only  seven 
years — though  he  continued  to  preach  to  the  people 
several  months  longer.  He  was  not  a  young  man 
when  he  came  to  Newark — having  already  served  in 


*  The  following  extracts  from  the  Rec- 
ords niaj-  serve  to  illustrate  the  method  of 
conducting  aflfairs  of  this  sort  at  (he  pe- 
riod in  question: 

"  It  is  also  consulted,  voted,  and  con- 
sented to  and  agreed  by  the  said  inhabit- 
ants then  convened,  for  Mr.  John  Pnidden's 
encouragement  to  come  and  settle  among 
us,  and  that  he  may  the  better  attend 
upon  the  work  of  the  ministry  as  Jus  busi- 
ness, and  for  the  more  comfortable  susten- 
ance of  his  family  in  his  attendance  there- 
on, that  he  shall  have  fifty  pounds  per 
annum  and  his  firewood  free,  to  be  paid 
yearly,  according  to  several  contributions 
voluntarily  subscribed  by  them,  to  Mr. 
Prudden  or  his  order,  so  long  as  he  shall 
continue  with  them  employed  in  the  min- 
istry. It  is  moreover  voted  and  agreed, 
that  Mr.  Prudden  shall  have  and  hold 
such  a  propriet}'  and  other  conveniences, 
for  his  accommodations  in  the  town,  as 
shall  be  agreed  upon  between  him  and  the 
committee  appointed  to  treat  with  him, 
viz  :  Mr.  Ward,  Mr.  Johnson,  John  Curtis, 
Azariah  Crane,  Jasper  Crane,  Thomas  Lud- 
dington  and  Stephen  Bond,  nominated  and 
empowered  for  that  purpose."— p.  116. 

"Aug.  23, 1(192.  The  result  of  a  treaty 
between  Mr.  John  Prudden  and  a  com- 
mittee chosen,  constituted  and  empowered 
by  the  inhabitants  and  freeholders  of 
Newark  to  act  in  their  behalf,  is  as  foUow- 
eth,  viz :  It  is  concluded  and  agreed  by 
the  said  committee,  that  Mr.  Prudden 
shall  have  and  hold  the  accommodations 
purchased  of  Mrs.  Falconer  [the  widow  of 
Patrick  Falconer]  for  his  own  propriety,  to 
him  and  his  heirs  forever,  he  p.aying  or 
causing  to  be  paid  the  two  last  payments, 
indented  for  with  Mrs.  Falconer,  except- 
ing only  five  pounds,  which  the  town  is  to 


discharge,  beside  what  is  already  done  in 
prime  bill  of  debt  made  to  the  said  Mrs. 
Falconer,  as  witnesseth  our  hands  sub- 
scribed, Mr.  John  Prudden.  Committee  in 
behalf  of  tltemselves  and  their  neighbors: 
Mr.  John  Ward,  Mr.  Johnson,  John  Cur- 
tis, Azariah  Crane,  Jasper  Crane,  Thomas 
Luddington,  Stephen  Bond."  Records,  p. 
117. 

"  Town  meeting,  Oct.  1G92.  It  was  voted 
whether  the  charges  for  purchasing  that 
accommodations  that  was  Mrs.  Falconer's^ 
and  the  charge  of  transporting  Mr.  John 
Prudden  should  be  equally  levied  on  every 
person's  estate,  and  it  was  agreed,  with  a 
unanimous  consent,  that  it  should  be  so. 
Secondly,  it  was  also  voted  that  the  charge 
for  the  payment  and  transport  should  be 
charged  by  a  rate  according  to  our  own 
agreement  formerly  made,  that  is,  by 
heads  and  stock."  Query — was  this  the 
agreement  of  January  9, 1 687-8  ?  "  Third- 
ly, it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Johnson  and  Jas- 
per Crane  should  give  Mr.  Prudden  pos- 
session of  the  accommodations  that  was 
purchased  of  Mrs.  Falconer." — p..  117. 

"  It  was  voted  that  Zechariah  and 
Ephraim  Burwell,  for  the  south  end  of  our 
town,  and  Sam.uel  Harrison  and  Nathaniel 
Ward  for  the  north  end,  [bo  a  committee] 
for  to  see  after  the  bringing  the  wood  for 
Mr.  Pierson,  and  for  to  call  out  the  people 
for  that  purpose,  when  there  is  need  for 
his  supply  therein." — p.  117. 

"  Town  meeting,  Jan.  2, 1692-3.  Benja- 
min Baldwin,  Jabez  Rogers,  William 
Camp  and  Seth  Tompkins  are  chosen  to 
collect  the  money  that  is  gathered  by  the 
subscriptions  in  Newark  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  the  ministry  in  the  year  1692." — p. 
117. 


102  MR.  prudden's  dismission. 

tlie  ministry  more  than  twenty  years,  and,  having  a 
large  property,  which  freed  him  from  the  necessity  of 
labor,  he  may  have  begun  to  find  the  cares  of  office  in 
so  large  a  congregation  too  heavy  for  him,  and  desired  a 
release.*  Several  months  before  he  resigned  his  charge, 
measures  were  taken  to  procure  for  him  an  assistant, 
and  an  unusually  large  sum  of  money  was  raised  in 
order  to  meet  the  additional  expense.f 

Difficulties,  however,  of  some  kind,  undoubtedly  ex- 
isted in  the  congregation  at  this  time ;  and  an  eccle- 
siastical council  was  convened,  the  result  of  whose  de- 
liberations was  so  far  satisfactory,  that  "  the  town  did 
vote  their  full  compliance  with  and  acquiescence  in 
that  issue  ;"  withal  signifying  that  they  would  "  take 
sufficient  care  to  defray  the  whole  charge  of  this  their 
journey  and  trouble  till  they  return."J  That  these 
difficulties  were  not  such  as  seriously  to  dis23arage  Mr. 
Prudden  in  the  eyes  of  his  people,  may  be  inferred 

*  The  elder  Prudden  had  an  estate  in  and  Jasper  Crane  are  chosen  for  to  treat 

the  country,  valued  at  £924,  and  left  a  and  agree  with  Mr.   Wakcman  and  Mr, 

landed  interest  in  England  of  £1,300  ster-  Prudden,  and  if  Mr,  Wakeman  will  not 

ling.     (See  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  come,  then  some  other  for  a  year." — p. 

i,  p.   294,  note.)      Lambert  says:    "The  126. 

Pruddens  in  New  Jersey  shared  half  of  X  "Town  meeting,  June  9,  1699.  "  Ikm 

the    interest    money   received    from  the  — It  is  agreed  upon  by  vote  that  we  will 

Prudden  estate  in  England."     (See  Lam-  send  for  the  Hon'daud  Rever'd  Council  of 

bert's  Hist.  Col.  New  Haven,  p.  151,  note.)  Elders,   and  [request  them]  to  favor  us 

t  The  following  is  the  record  bearing  with  a  sight  of  those  papers  wherein  the 

on  this  point,  viz:    "Town  meeting,  Jan.  issue  of  the  late  difficulties  so  far  is  con- 

2,1698-9.     Item — It  is  agreed  by  vote  that  tained.    Item — The   town  did   vote  their 

the  town  will  raise  £100  in  a  way  of  a  rate  full  compliance  with  and  acquiescence  in 

for  the  upholding  of  the  worship  of  God  that  issue.    Item — The  Rev.  Mr.  Prudden 

amongst  us  for  a  year.     Item — It  is  voted  and  Mr.  John  Brown  are  chosen  by  vote 

for  to  know  whether  the  town  would  have  to  return  our  thanks  to  the  Rever'd  Coun- 

Mr.  Wakeman,  if  he  could  be  obtained,  cil  for  their  fuitliful  and  painful   services 

for  to  join  with  Mr.  Prudden  in  helping  him  for  our  settlement,  signifying  that  we  will 

to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry ;  and  take  sufficient  care  to  defray   the  whole 

if  he  cannot  be  obtained,  then  some  other,  charge  of  this  their  journey  and  trouble 

Item — Mr.  Pierson,  Mr.  Treat,  Mr.  Curtis,  till  they  return."    Town  Records,  p.  127. 


MR.   prudden's  dismission.  103 

from  the  fact  that  they  made  choice  of  him,  with  one 
other,  to  convey  their  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Keverend 
Council  "  for  their  faithful  and  painful  services ;"  and 
at  the  same  town  meeting  commissioned  three  of  their 
most  prominent  men  to  express  to  him  their  thanks  for 
his  past  services,  and  their  desire,  testified  by  a  very 
full  vote,  for  his  continuance  among  them,  and  his  ser- 
vice in  preaching  to  them,  till  God  should  favor  them 
with  some  other  supply.  This  vote  was  passed  June 
9,  1699. 

Never  was  a  pastoral  connection  dissolved  with 
greater  manifestations  of  kindness  and  good  under- 
standing between  the  parties.  HLs  full  salary  was 
continued  to  him  as  long  as  he  should  continue  to 
preach ;  and  an  order  made  "  that  all  persons  from 
sixteen  to  sixty  years  of  age  shall  give  to  Mr.  Prudden 
each  of  them  one  load  of  wood  for  the  year  ensuing, 
whether  he  serve  the  town  in  the  ministry  another 
year  or  no."*  But  Dr.  Macwhorter  intimates  that  his 
ministry  had  not  been  an  easy  one,  owing  to  the  dis- 
satisfaction of  the  minority  with  his  views  and  tliose 
of  the  "  predominant  party"  in  respect  to  ecclesiasti- 
cal government  ;   and  as  he  is  represented  "  not  to 

*  Newark     Town     Records.       Item —  God  shall  furnish  us  with  some  other  sup- 

Capt.  Curtis,  Mr.  Treat,  Mr.  Piersoii  and  ply.    /tem — It  is  agreed  that  we  will  al- 

Thomas    Richards   are  chosen   by  a  full  low  him  for  his  further  ministry  according 

vote  to  return  our  thanks  to  the  Reverend  to  what  he  formerly  had  in  proportion  to 

Mr.  Prudden   for    his    hitherto   services  the  time  we  have  occasion  to  use  him  as  a 

amongst  us,  with  a  signilication  that  we  minister.    Item — It  is  voted  that  all  per- 

will  speedily  pay  otf  our  arrears  due  to  sons  from  IG  to  60  years  of  age  .shall  give 

him  by  our  particular  subscriptions,  and  Mr.   Prudden   each  of  them  one  load  of 

by  a  full  vote  declare  our  desire  of  his  con-  wood  for  the  year  ensuing,  whether  he 

tinuance  among  us,  and  his  services  at  serve  the  town  in  the  ministry  another 

present  in  preaching  the  Word  to  us  till  year  or  no."    Records,  pp.  127-8. 


104  PARSONAGE    LANDS. 

have  been  a  popular  preacher,"  it  is  possible  that  a  de- 
cline of  interest  in  his  preaching,  on  the  part  of  the 
people,  may  have  been  among  the  causes  of  his  resig- 
nation. 

It  is  to  the  period  of  Mr.  Prudden's  ministry  that 
the  origin  of  the  Church  property,  or  title  to  the  "  par- 
sonage lands,"  is  usually  referred.  The  original  Pro- 
prietors, in  their  Concessions,  while  they  engaged  never 
to  exercise  the  "  right  of  patronage  and  power  of  ad- 
vowson,"  granted  by  his  Majesty  to  the  Duke  of  York, 
and  by  him  transferred  to  them,  "  thereby  to  infringe 
the  general  clause  of  liberty  of  conscience,"  empowered 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province  by  their  act  to 
appoint  as  many  ministers  or  preachers  as  they  should 
see  fit,  and  establish  their  maintenance ;  at  the  same 
time  giving  liberty  beside,  to  any  person  or  persons  to 
keep  and  maintain  what  preachers  or  ministers  they 
should  please. 

This  power  seems  never  to  have  been  exercised  by 
the  General  Assembly;  and  at  a  subsequent  period, 
namely  in  the  year  16V2,  when,  disagreements  having 
arisen,  it  was  thought  proper  to  abridge  the  powers  of 
that  body,  the  Lords  Proprietors,  in  the  instrument  al- 
ready referred  to,  which  purports  to  be  an  "  Explana- 
tion of  their  Concessions,"  and  a  "  Declaration  of  the 
true  intent  and  meaning"  of  the  Proprietors  in  making 
them,  transferred  this  authority  from  the  General  As- 
sembly to  the  Governor  and  Council,  subject  however 
to  the  previous  nomination  and  choice  of  the  people 
in  the  several  corporations.*     In  furtherance  of  their 

*  Grants,  Concessions,  ic,  pp.  12-84. 


PARSONAGE    LANDS.  105 

design,  to  see  that  religious  institutions  should  be 
maintained  on  the  freest  practicable  terras,  a  grant  of 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  was  made  in  the  beginning 
"to  each  parish  for  the  use  of  their  ministers,"  free 
from  all  rents  and  other  charges  whatsoever.  The 
people  of  this  congregation  being  then  the  only  parish 
in  the  town,  early  availed  themselves  of  this  grant. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1676,  a  warrant  was  taken 
out  for  the  survey  of  tM'^o  hundred  acres  of  land  and 
meadow  in  proportion,  for  the  purposes  of  a  parsonage, 
and  "  also  so  much  as  shall  be  convenient  for  landing 
places,  school  house,  town  house,  meeting  house,  market 
places,  <fec. ;  in  pursuance  of  which  warrant,  two  hundred 
and  twelve  acres  were  surveyed  the  same  year,  includ- 
ing three  acres  for  a  burying  place,  three  for  a  market 
place,  and  six  for  a  training  place.*  I  find  no  evidence 
that  any  use  was  made  of  these  lands  for  religious  pur- 
poses, except  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  and 
the  burial  of  the  dead  on  one  of  the  smaller  tracts, 
until  after  December  10th,  1696,  when  a  deed  was  ex- 
ecuted by  the  Proprietors,  conveying  all  the  above 
named  reservations,  with  their  appurtenances,  to  John 
Curtis,  John  Treat,  Theophilus  Pierson  and  Robert 
Young,  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  "  to  the  only 
proper  use,  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  old  settlers  of 
the  town  of  Newark,  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever," 
to  be  for  the  several  uses  expressed  in  the  deed,  and 
for  "no  other  use  or  uses  whatsoever,"  they  paying 
annually  "six  pence  sterling  money  of  England,  on 
every  five  and  twentieth  day  of  March,  for  ever  here- 

*  Bill  in  Chancery,  pp.  91-9:3. 


106  REV.    JABEZ    WAKEMAN. 

after."  It  is  under  the  title  conveyed  by  this  deed,  if 
I  am  rightly  informed,  that  all  that  part  of  the  church 
property  which  came  from  the  original  settlers  of  the 
town  has  been  held  ever  since. 

Mr.  Prudden  continued  to  reside  in  Newark  after  his 
dismission,  as  long  as  he  lived.  He  never  assumed 
another  pastoral  charge,  but  lived  on  the  best  of  terms 
with  his  former  parishioners,  preaching  for  them,  at 
their  request,  whenever  they  had  no  stated  minister, 
and  fulfilling  important  trusts  connected  with  their  re- 
ligious and  secular  interests.  He  died  in  the  year  1*725, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  having  outlived 
two,  and  sat  under  the  ministry  of  three  of  his  succes- 
sors in  the  sacred  office  ;  and  his  remains  lie  in  the  bu- 
rying ground  in  the  rear  of  this  church,  to  which  they 
were  removed  from  their  original  resting  place  a  few 
years  ago.* 

The  fourth  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Jabez  Wakeman,  a 
younger  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,  who  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Fairfield,  Conn.,  in 
the  year  1665,  and  removed  by  death  between  March 
and  October,  1692.f  Jabez  Wakeman  was  about 
fourteen  years  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and  in  the 
will,  direction  is  given  that  he  be  kept  at  school,  and 
enter  college  the  next  August.  The  delay  of  a  year 
however,  seems  to  have  occurred,  for  we  find  by  the 
catalogue  of  Harvard  College — "the  college,"  as  the 

*  The  following  is  the  inscription  on  the  parted  this  Life  Dec.  11th,  1725,  Aged  80 

tombstone   of  Mr.   Prudden — but  whose  yrs. 

muse  presided  at  its  composition  I  am  not  "  Nor  grace  nor  favour  fill  mj  reins.  Loc 

informed.  room  for  y'  there  yet  remains." 

"  Here  lyes  y"  Body  of  y"  Rev^  Mr.  John  t  Trumbull,  Hist.  Conn. 
Prudden,  Minister  of  y°  Gospel,  who  de- 


ME.  wakeman's  settlement.  107 

will  denominates  it,  that  lie  was  graduated  in  the  year 
1697.  About  a  year  and  four  months  after  this  date, 
the  people  of  Newark  wishing  to  obtain  an  assistant 
'for  their  worthy  pastor,  had  their  attention  turned 
towards  this  young  graduate,  and  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  treat  with  Mi*.  Wakeman  and  Mr.  Prudden  for 
that  purpose.  But  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Prudden, 
which  took  place  early  in  June  following,  gave  a  new 
aspect  to  affairs,  and  shortly  afterwards,  measures  were 
adopted  to  secure  Mr.  Wakeman's  services  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  pastoral  office.  He  was  first  engaged  to 
preach  in  that  capacity  for  a  year,  but  scarcely  was 
the  year  half  out,  before  the  ardor  of  the  people  pressed 
the  question  to  an  issue,  and  at  a  meeting  held  on  the 
15th  of  April,  1700,  "it  was  particularly  inquired  of 
every  person,  whether  they  desired  Mr.  Jabez  Wake- 
man  to  be  called  to  the  pastoral  office  in  this  town,  and 
they  every  one  manifested  their  willingness  thereto, 
and  also  voted  the  same."* 

In  the  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  settlement 
of  Mr.  Wakeman,  we  discover  the  first  evidence  of 
separate  concurrent  action  of  the  Church  and  town  in 
religious  affairs.  On  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Prudden, 
the  town  appointed  a  committee  of  three  men,  "to  join 
with  such  as  the  Church  shall  appoint^  in  speedily  look- 
ing out  for  another  person  to  be  on  trial,  in  order  to 
settlement  in  the  pastoral  office,"  and  again,  shortly 
after,  another  committee  "to  join  with  the  Church 
committee,  to  treat  with  Mr.  Jabez  Wakeman  about 

*  Town  Records,  p.  131. 


108  CHARACTER    OF   MR.    WAKEMAN. 

his  taking  the  office  of  pastor  upon  him."  This  was  in 
the  years  1699  and  IVOO. 

The  salary  of  Mr.  Wakeman  was,  at  first,  £60,  but 
it  was  soon  after  raised  to  £80,  the  same  with  that  of 
the  two  Piersons ;  and  whereas  Mr.  Prudden's  had  been 
paid  "according  to  several  contributions  voluntarily 
subscribed,"  the  people  now  returned  to  the  old  prac- 
tice, and  agreed  that  the  above  named  sum  should  "  be 
raised  by  way  of  a  rate."*  A  subscription  was  also 
raised  to  procure  for  him  a  "settlement,"  that  is  a 
homestead  or  "  accommodations,"  as  in  the  case  of  his 
predecessor;  in  pursuance  of  which,  a  house  and  its 
appurtenances  were  purchased,  and  presented  to  him, 
by  a  deed  of  gift,  "  as  the  town's  act  and  deed."f 

Mr.  Wakeman  became  the  sole  pastor  of  this  con- 
gregation at  the  early  age  of  about  twenty-one  years. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  amiable,  ac- 
complished, and  remarkably  popular  in  the  pulpit. 
The  attachment  of  the  people  to  their  young  and 
talented  pastor,  appears  to  have  been  deep  and  tender. 
Under  his  ministry  the  congregation  became  so  much 
increased,  that  additional  accommodations  were  re- 
quired for  public  worship,  and  the  town  ordered  a 
gallery  to  be  built  across  the  north  end  of  the  meeting 

*  Upon  closer  examination,  I  am  satis-  plan,  it  was  voted  that  the  way  of  rating 
lied  that  the  rate  referred  to  was  levied  for  the  salary  "  should  be  as  the  major  part 
only  on  the  estates  of  those  who  had  vol-  of  the  subscribers  should  agree  upon."  I 
untarily  agreed  to  be  taxed  for  the  pur-  find  no  evidence  of  a  tax  levied  indiscrim- 
pose.  The  record  is  very  explicit  respect-  inately  and  without  consent  of  parties  for 
ing  the  "settlement,"  that  though  the  deed  the  support  of  the  minister,  after  the  first 
of  gift  was  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Wake-  deviation  from  the  original  practice  in  the 
man  as  the  town's  ad  and  deed,  the  money  case  of  Abraham  Pierson,  junior,  in  the 
to  procure  it  should  "  be  raised  by  way  of  the  year  IGS7.  Town  Records,  p.  133. 
rate  upon  the  estates  of  the  subscribers."  t  Besides  the  accommodations  mention- 
In   apparent  accordance  with  the  same  ed  above,  we  find  the  following  under  date 


MR.  wakeman's  death.  109 

house.*  But  the  hopes  of  the  people  and  the  fair 
earthly  prospects  of  the  young  minister  and  his  family, 
were  destined  to  an  early  reverse.  In  the  autumn  of 
the  year  1704,  that  fearful  malady,  the  dysentery,  pre- 
vailing in  a  fatal  form  among  the  people,  invaded  his 
family.  His  little  son,  Samuel,  a  child  of  two  years 
old,  and  an  only  one,  died  on  the  29th  of  October ;  and 
only  nine  days  later,  the  father  followed,  leaving  a 
childless  widow,  and  a  disappointed  flock  to  shed  their 
tears  over  his  early  grave.f  ^ 

Mr.  Wakeman  died  on  the  8th  day  of  October,  1704, 
in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  after  a  short  min- 
istry of  between  four  and  five  years.  In  his  will,  dated 
four  days  before  his  death,  in  which  he  speaks  of  him- 
self as  "  brought  very  low  under  the  afflicting  hand  of 
God,"  and  not  knowing  how  soon  my  change  and  dis- 
solution may  happen,"  he  disposes  of  his  "  house  and 
homestead,"  in  case  of  his  wife's  decease  without  issue 
or  re-marriage,  "  to  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  town  of 
Newark,"  in  the  hands  of  seven  named  trustees,  or 
their  surviving  substitutes,  and  manifests  his  attach- 
ment to  the  sacred  ofiice,  by  the  following  item :  "  My 

of  Nov.  11th,  1701 :  "  Item. — It  is  agreed        t  During  the  minislry  of  Mr.  Wakeman, 

upon  by  vote,  that  Mr.  Wakeman  shall  oraboutthe  time  of  his  decease,  there  died 

have  laid  out  to  him  sixty  acres  of  upland,  of  the  old  settlers,  Samuel  Plum,  June  13, 

and  ten  acres  of  meadow,  in  the  bounds  1703-4,  aged  79 ;  Captain   John  Curtis, 

of  Newark,  if  it  can  be  found,  if  he  settle  September  17,  1708,  aged  62;   (See  Dr. 

among  us  to  be  our  minister,  and  Mr.  John  J.  S.  Condit's  Monumental  Inscriptions,) 

Curtis  is  chosen  to  lay  out  the  land  above  Samuel    Rose,    1700  ;    Jonathan    Tomp- 

said.  kins,  in  or  before  1700 ;  Thomas  Pierson, 

*  The  building  of  the  gallery  was  first  senior,   and  John  Baldwin,  senior,  1702 . 

ordered  by  vote,  Nov.  1702,  but  as  late  as  Henry  Lyon,  Francis  Linle  and  William 

March,  1703-4,  a  committee  was  appointed  Camp,  1703;  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Azariah 

"to  contrive  and  oversee  the  building  of  Crane,  and  daughter  of  Robert  Treaty  1704. 

it."    Town  Records,  pp.  134-5.  —S.  K  Congwr.     , 


110  CONGEEGATION    DESTITUTE. 

library  of  books,  I  will  and  bequeatli  unto  tbe  first  of 
my  father  Wakeman's  bouse  and  family,  who  shall  be 
brought  up  at  the  University,  and  be  fitted  with  learn- 
ing to  be  serviceable  to  God  and  His  church,  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry."  In  the  introduction,  he  disposes 
of  himself  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  and 
manifests  his  pious  feeling  in  the  following  words: 
"  I'nyp'imis. — I  commit  my  soul  immortal  to  God  who 
gave  it,  to  glorify  Him,  and  to  be  glorified  by  and  with 
Him  for  ever.  My  frail  and  corruptible  body,  made 
of  the  dust,  I  will  to  be  decently  buried,  in  hope  of  a 
glorious  resurrection  unto  eternal  life,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  my  only  Redeemer  and  Saviour,  who  was  de- 
livered for  my  offenses,  and  raised  again  for  my  justi- 
fication ;  that  I  may,  both  soul  and  body,  glorify  God 
for  ever.  Amen."  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  be  able 
to  add,  that  the  precious  remains  of  this  beloved  min- 
ister of  Christ,  are  "  decently  buried"  in  the  rear  of  this 
church ;  to  which  place  they  were  removed  with  pious 
care,  and  for  the  sake  of  greater  security,  a  few  years 
since,  having  been  only  once  disturbed  during  a  period 
of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.* 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Wakeman,  the  congregration 
remained  destitute  of  a  settled  minister  five  or  six 


*  The  following  is  the  inscription  on  the        "  By  him  lies  his  son,  Samuel,  died  Sept.  . 

tombstone  of  Mr.  Wakeman.     For  its  La-  29,  1704,  ^Etatis  2d." 
tinity,  it  is  presumed,  neither  he  nor  "  the        There  are  two  tablets,  the  lower,  and 

College"  is  accountable :  probably  the  earlier  one,  is  in  capitals,  and 

"  Here  lye  the  Remains  of  y'  Revd.  Mr.  as  t\ir  as  it  is  legible,  reads  thus  : 
Jabcz  Wakeman,  the  faithful  Pastor  of       "th    y  body,  Jabesh  Wakeman,  wbas 

y  Church  of  Christ  in  this  place,  who  l)e-  our  Rev'  Pastor,  who   deceased,  Oct.  8, 

parted  this  life,  Oct'  8'."  17o4.     iEtatis  26.  1704,  in  y'  20  year  of  his  age." 

"  Hoc  sunt  Uimulo  Wakeman  venerabi-        The  Latin  is  the  same  as  on  the  other, 
lis  ossa." 


REV.    SAMUEL    WHITTLESEY.  Ill 

years.  Mr.  Prudclen  was  immediately  invited  to  re- 
sume tlie  pulpit  till  some  other  supply  could  be  pro- 
cured, and  the  town  voted  "  to  be  in  the  speedy  use 
of  means  to  seek  for  a  man  to  supply  the  vacancy  of 
the  pastoral  office."  But  no  suitable  person  seems  to 
have  been  found  for  a  candidate,  until  after  the  lapse 
of  a  full  year,  when  the  town  voted  that  their  commit- 
tee "should  make  their  application  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Sherman,  to  preach  the  Word  amongst  us  for  proba- 
tion." But  after  a  few  months  some  facts  transpiring 
connected  with  his  former  history,  of  the  nature  of 
which  we  are  not  informed,  the  negotiations  were  ab- 
ruptly terminated,  by  a  vote  to  have  "  no  further 
treaty  with  Mr.  Sherman  upon  the  account  of  a  settle- 
ment among  us."* 

Theo])hilus  Pierson,  younger  brother  of  the  second 
Abraham  Pierson,  was  now  appointed  "to  be  the 
town's  messenger  to  send,  to  endeavor  to  get  a  man 
upon  trial,"  and  a  committee  of  five  men  appointed, 
with  Mr.  Prudden  at  their  head,  "  to  give  Mr.  Pierson 
power,  direction  and  instruction  in  that  matter,  in  the 
town's  behalf." 

Mr.  Samuel  Whittlesey  was  the  next  candidate.  "  It 
was  voted  and  agreed  upon,"  says  the  record,  under 

*  "The  question  was  asked  the  town,        "Item. — Mr.  Pierson  was  chosen  by  vole 

says  the  record,  whether  they  were  satis-  to  be  the  town's  messenger  to  send,  to  en- 

Ined  with  the  information  that  the  Church  deavor  to  get  a  man  upon  trial  in  the  work 

had  from  Mr.  Sherman's  own  mouth  con-  of  the   ministry  among  us.     Item. — Mr. 

cerning  the  place  from  whence  he  came.  Prudden,  Mr.  Jasper  Crane,  Deacon  Crane, 

It  was  consented  to  by  vote  that  they  were.  Robert  Young  and  Joseph  Uarrison  were 

/(!«»«.— Eliphalet     Johnson,     Mr.    Jasper  chosen  by  vote  to  give  all  power,  direction 

Crane,  Mr.  Pierson  and  Deacon   Azariah  and   instruction   in    that    matter    in  the 

Crane  were  chosen  by  vote  to  return  the  town's  behalf"    Records,  p.  138. 
town's  answer  to  Mr.  Sherman  above  said. 


112  LORD    CORNBURY. 

date  of  May  17tli,  1706,  "to  improve  Mr.  Samuel 
Whittlesey  in  tlie  work  of  tlie  ministry  among  us  for 
the  space  of  a  year."  The  result  of  this  improvement 
was  a  determination,  on  the  part  of  the  people,  to  seek 
his  settlement  among  them.  Some  difference  of  opinion 
probably  existed  at  this  time,  in  regard  to  the  proper 
sum  to  be  assigned  for  the  support  of  the  new  minis- 
ter, and  it  was  voted  March  31st,  1707,  "that  the  ma- 
jor part  should  rule  the  minor  in  fixing  the  sum  for 
Mr.  Whittlesey's  salary."  Accordingly,  the  salary  was 
fiixed  at  £65,  with  the  additional  intimation  that  the 
town  "  would,  and  were  willing  to  he  lielpful  to  Mr. 
Whittlesey,  in  procuring  a  settlement  for  him  in  con- 
venient season."  Mr.  Whittlesey  saw  fit  to  decline 
this  invitation,  and  was  soon  after  settled  as  the  second 
pastor  of  the  Church  in  Wallingford,  Conn.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  occupied  the  pulpit  here  somewhat  more 
than  a  year. 

The  period  in  which  these  transactions  took  place 
was  one  of  great  political  agitation.  The  Proprietary 
government  finding  itself  unable  to  maintain  its  au- 
thority and  secure  the  public  order,  made  a  formal 
surrender  of  its  powers  into  the  hands  of  the  Queen, 
on  the  15th  of  April,  1702,  who  thereupon  commis- 
sioned Edward,  Lord  Cornbury,  her  own  cousin,  as  her 
Captain-General  and  Governor-in-chief  of  the  Province 
of  New  Jersey,  and  sent  him  hither  with  her  instruc- 
tions to  form  a  new  government,  embracing  both  the 
two  former  divisions  of  the  Province. 

The  private  character  of  Lord  Cornbury  was  as  mean 
and  contemptible,  as  his  administration  of  the  govern- 


LOED   CORNBURY.  113 

ment  was  arbitrary  and  oppressive.  "  It  was  no  un- 
common thing  for  him,"  says  a  writer  quoted  in  Smith's 
History,  "  to  dress  himself  in  a  woman's  hal)it,  and  then 
patrol  the  fort  in  which  he  resided.  Such  freaks  of 
low  humor  exposed  him  to  the  universal  contempt  of 
the  people ;  but  their  indignation  was  kindled  by  his 
despotic  rule,  savage  bigotry,  insatiable  avarice,  and 
injustice,  not  only  to  the  public,  but  even  to  his  private 
creditors."* 

This  detested  and  detestable  young  nobleman,  re- 
garded it  as  his  special  mission  in  the  New  World,  to 
promote  the  interests  of  the  Church  of  England ;  and 
although  the  Queen  had  expressly  instructed  him  "  to 
permit  a  liberty  of  conscience  to  all  persons  except  Pa- 
pists, so  they  might  be  content  with  a  quiet  and  peace- 
able enjojTuent  of  the  same,"  his  overweening  zeal 
seized  upon  some  expressions  ha™g  manifest  reference 
to  clergymen  of  the  Established  Church,  whom  he  was 
not  to  allow  to  preach  without  either  a  certificate  from 
the  Bishop  of  London,  or  a  license  from  himself,  and 
made  them  the  pretext  for  vexatious  restrictions  and 
exactions  upon  the  old  and  long  established  Presbyte- 
rian and  Congregational  churches.f 

It  marks  sufficiently  the  oppressive  spirit  of  this  ad- 
ministration, by  whose  vexatious  measures  both  in  civil 
and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  the  most  peaceful  citizens  were 

*  Hist.  New  Jersey,  p.  352.  the  English  parliament,  both  in  the  impo- 
i  Force's  Ilistorical  Tracts,  vol.  iv.  No.  4.  sition  of  taxes  and  the  regulation  of  eccle- 
"  It  must  be  admitted,"  says  Graham,  siastical  affairs."  This  pledge  of  freedom 
Hist.  North  America,  p.  464,  "that  the  from  interference  in  religious  matters  was 
colonization  of  this  province  was  under-  their  grand  inducement  to  make  the  set- 
taken  on  an  assurance,  which  the  settlers  tlement.  Whence  then  could  the  Queen 
were  entitled  to  credit,  of  their  being  com-  or  her  oflBcers  derive  the  right  to  molest 
pletely  exempted  from  the  jurisdiction  of  them  ? 

8 


114  EEV.  FRANCIS  MAKEMIE. 

well  nigh  stung  to  open  rebellion,  that  such  an  item  as 
the  following,  which  I  extract  from  the  Newark  Town 
Records,  should  have  found  place  among  the  transac- 
tions of  one  of  the  most  ancient,  respectal:)le  and  law- 
abiding  congregations  in  the  land.  "  Oct.  30,  1705 — 
It  was  agreed  upon  by  vote,  to  petition  my  Lord  Corn- 
bury  for  license,  that  we  may  have  leave  to  get  and 
settle  a  man  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel, 
according  to  our  own  persuasion."* 

That  this  precaution  was  not  adopted  without  rea- 
son, is  manifest  from  what  took  place  two  years  after- 
wards, in  the  case  of  Rev.  Francis  Makemie,  a  highly 
respected  member  of  the  iii'st  presbytery  ever  estab- 
lished in  this  country.  This  excellent  man  was  seized 
by  order  of  the  Governor,  for  the  alleged  offence  of 
preaching  in  the  city  of  New  York  without  a  license, 
carried  about  the  country,  from  Newtown,  on  Long  Is- 
land, through  Jamaica  to  New  York,  and  there  thrust 
into  prison,  where  he  was  detained  six  weeks.  After 
a  long  trial,  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  "  not  guilty," 
and  when  cpiestioned  by  the  court  concerning  their 
reasons,  simply  replied  that  "they  believed  in  their 
conscience,  they  had  done  the  defendant  justice,"  and 
that  he  "  had  not  transgressed  any  law."  Thereupon 
the  court  ordered  the  prisoner  to  be  discharged ;  not 
however  without  first  throwing  upon  him  the  whole 
costs  of  the  prosecution,  including  fees  to  the  sheriff 
for  arresting  him,  and  the  high  sheriff*  for  committing 

*  The  Record  adds,  "Item. — Mr.  Prud-  personate  the  town  in  signing  the  petitioD. 

den,  Mr.  Pierson  and  Sergeant  John  Mor-  Mr.  Pierson  is  chosen  to  prefer  it  to  my 

ris  are  chosen  by  vote  to  draw  a  petition.  Lord  Cornbury."    Records,  p.  136. 
It  is  voted  that  the  Clerk  of  the  town  shall 


KEV.  FRANCIS  MAKEMIE.  115 

him  to  prison,  togetlier  with  £12  126".  to  the  prosecut- 
ing attorney — the  whole  amounting  to  somewhat  more 
than  £80* — and  the  impoverished  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter was  permitted  to  pursue  his  journey  to  New  Eng- 
land, with  such  funds  as  might  be  left  him,  or  as  his 
friends  might  furnish,  musing  at  leisure,  although 
nothing  daunted,  on  the  perils  of  Presbyterian  church 
extension  within  the  bounds  of  my  Lord  Cornbury's 
government. 

In  this  outrageous  transaction,  the  members  of  this 
congregation  did  not  escape  their  share  of  annoyance. 
The  persecuted  minister  had,  it  seems,  found  sympa- 
thizers, if  not  helpers  among  them.  During  his  impris- 
onment therefore,  in  order  if  possible  to  ehcit  some- 
thing to  his  disadvantage,  that  might  be  available  in 
the  trial,  an  order  was  given  to  Major  Sandford,  one  of 
the  Governor's  council,  to  examine,  on  oath,  Jasper 
Crane  and  several  others,  concerning  private  conversa- 
tions supi^osed  to  have  been  held  between  Makemie 
and  "  sundry  of  his  friends,"  at  Mr.  Crane's  house.  The 
inquisition  however,  l)rought  to  light  no  dangerous 
secrets.f 

It  is  a  relief  to  know,  that  scarcely  a  year  elapsed 
after  this  outrage,  before  the  Queen,  listening  to  the 
complaints  of  her  injured  subjects,  divested  the  un- 
worthy official  of  his  abused  power,  declaring  that  she 
"  would  not  countenance  her  nearest  relations  in  op- 
pressing her  people." 

*  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  iv.  No.  for  the  above  statement,  Mr.  Crane's  resi- 

4,  ed.  Washington,  1816.  dence  is  said  to  be  in  "  JV^u'- J't/r/t-Town 

t  Force's  Historical  Tracts,  vol.  iv.  No.  in  East-Jersey,"  but  there  can  be  no  doubt 

4.    In  the  edition  to  which  I  have  referred  I  suppose  as  to  the  place  intended. 


116  REV.  NATHANIEL  BOWERS. 

But,  to  proceed  with  the  narrative  :  On  the  failure 
of  their  endeavors  to  obtain  Mr.  Whittlesey,  the  town 
resolved  to  send  to  New  England  for  a  minister.*  This 
had  been,  from  the  beginning,  the  great  clerical  hive  ; 
and  from  this  source,  if  from  any,  the  right  man  might 
be  expected.  Theoj^hilus  Pierson  was  accordingly 
again  deputed  to  undertake  this  journey  and  make  the 
necessary  inquiries  ;  and  on  his  return  he  made  report 
"  that  with  good  advice  from  the  elders,  he  made  ap- 
plication to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bowers,  when  he  received 
encouragement,  that  if  the  town  would  signify  their 
desire  therein,  he  would  give  us  a  visit."f  On  hearing 
this  report,  the  town  at  once  resolved  to  accede  to  the 
proposition  implied  in  it ;  and,  to  testify  their  cordial- 
ity in  the  matter,  ordered  a  messenger  to  be  sent  to 
meet  him  at  Hudson  Biver,  and  conduct  him  to  New- 
ark. After  preaching  to  the  people  one  Sabbath,  Mr. 
Bowers  was  invited  "  very  unanimously — not  one  to 
the  contrary,"  to  occupy  the  pulpit  for  a  year  on  trial ; 
and  near  the  expiration  of  that  period,  a  call  was  given 
him  to  assume  the  pastoral  office,  and  a  committee  ap- 
pointed to  make  the  arrangements  for  his  ordination. 
In  the  stipulation  for  the  support  of  Mr.  Bowers,  we 

*  "  Town  meeting,  March  21, 1708.   Mr  progress  he  had  made  in  that  matter ;  that 

Pierson  was  chosen  by  vote  to  go  to  New  with  good  advice  from  the  elders,  he  made 

England  to  endeavor  to  procure  a  minister ;  his  application  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bowers, 

and  the  committee  that  was  before  chosen,  of  whom  he  received  this  encouragement; 

viz:  Mr.  Pierson,  [Mr.  Prudden?]  Deacon  that  if  the  town  would  signify  their  desire 

Azariah  Crane,  Mr.  Jasper  Crane,  Sergeant  therein,  he  would  give  us  a  visit ;  which 

Joseph  Harrison,  Robert  Young  and  Lieut,  was  put  to  vote,  and  very  unanimously 

Samuel   Ailing,    were   appointed   to  give  voted   that  there   should  be  a  messenger 

him  his  instructions  in  the  management  of  sent  to  Hudson's  river,  on  the  16th  June, 

that  affair."  to  wait  \ipon  him  to  Newark."    Records, 

+  "June  8,  1709.    Upon  Mr.  Pierson's  pp.  140-1. 
return  he  made  a  report  to  the  town  of  the 


REV.  NATHANIEL  BOWERS. 


117 


find  tlie  first  notice  of  a  parsonage  house — perhaps  tlie 
same  wliicli  liad  been  given  to  Mr.  Wakeman,  and  re- 
conveyed  for  the  use  of  the  town  by  his  will.  The 
salary  assigned  to  him  after  his  settlement  was  £80, 
and  the  use  of  the  parsonage — "  he  keeping  it  in  re- 
pair.  ^ 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Bowers  was  the  fifth  pastor  of 
this  Church.  Of  his  origin,  parentage,  education  and 
early  history,  I  have  no  knowledge,  except  that  he 
came  from  New  England.  As  his  name  does  not  ap- 
pear among  the  graduates  either  of  Harvard  College 
or  Yale,  he  must  have  been  educated  in  the  old  coun- 
try, or  not  have  received  a  collegiate  education. f  The 
dates  of  his  ministry  may  be  very  accurately  stated. 
He  arrived  in  Newark  on  the  16th  of  June,  1709,  and 
was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Cliurch  in  the  autumn  of 


*  The  salary  here  named,  was  raised 
"  by  way  of  rating,"  as  in  the  case  of  Mr. 
Wakeman  ;  the  record  says,  "  according 
to  our  former  way  of  rating  for  the  min- 
ister." But  here  there  is  no  room  for 
doubt  as  to  what  was  meant  by  that  ex- 
pression ;  for  a  committee  was  appointed 
"on  a  lecture  day,"  June  28,  1710,  "to 
deliver  the  f<ulscriptio/i  to  Mr.  Bowers, 
which  was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the 
greater  part  of  the  town ,  for  the  payment 
of  his  yearly  salary ;"  and,  subsequently, 
an  order  is  given  that  "a  list  of  the  estates 
of  the  suli.fcrilerH"  should  be  given  in  to 
the  assessors,  for  that  purpose.  After  this 
period,  special  assessors  and  collectors 
were  appointed  annually  for  the  minister's 
rate  ;  and  from  afid  after  the  year  1714, 
when  the  town  charter  was  obtained,  the 
business  of  raising  money  fjr  religious 
purposes  is  always  transacted  at  special 
town  meetings,  and  those  meetings  are 
not  recorded,  like  those  at  which  the  or- 
dinary civil  affairs  of  the  town  are  trans- 
acted, as  called   "  pursuant  to  an  act  of 


Assembly."  Parish  and  town  seem  from 
that  date  to  have  become  practically  sepa- 
rated, though  not  nominally. 

t  The  Rev.  Mr.  Guernsey,  formerly  pas- 
tor of  a  church  in  Derby,  gives  me  the 
following  account  of  a  conversation  with 
the  late  Professor  Kingsley,  of  Yale  Col- 
lege :  "Prof.  Kingsley  says  that  Bowers, 
of  Derby,  went  westward,  and  was  met  by 
a  delegation  of  the  congregation  ho  went 
to  serve  at  the  New  York  State  line.  He 
did  not  give  his  name,  nor  did  he  name 
the  place  to  which  he  went.  Of  his  sub- 
sequent history  he  knows  nothing."  The 
name  of  the  Derby  Bowers  was  John,  and 
he  removed,  as  Trumbull  says,  to  Rye; 
but  the  resemblance  of  the  circumstances 
above  stated  to  those  recorded  in  the  New- 
ark Town  Records,  leads  me  to  suspect 
that  the  Professor's  information  had  con- 
founded two  things,  and  that  Nathaniel,  of 
Newark,  may  have  been  the  man  he  had 
in  view.  I  insert  the  tradition,  hoping  it 
may  furnish  a  clue  to  the  true  origin  of 
Mr.  Bowers. 


118  SECOND  HOUSE  OF  WORSHIP. 

ITIO.  Whether  this  was  his  first  settlement,  as  the 
term  "  ordination,"  used  in  the  Records,  seems  to  im- 
ply, or  whether  that  word  may  have  been  used  loosely 
for  installation,  may  be  a  matter  of  doubt.  His  age — 
already  past  thirty-five  years — would  seem  to  favor 
the  latter  supposition.  Mr.  Bowers  occupied  the  pul- 
pit a  little  more  than  seven  years,  and  was  the  pastor 
of  the  Church  about  six.*  His  death  occurred  in  the 
month  of  August,  1716,  in  the  43d  year  of  his  age, 
and  his  remains  lie  in  the  rear  of  this  Church,  by  the 
side  of  those  of  Prudden  and  Wakeman.f 

It  was  just  before  the  commencement  of  Mr.  Bow- 
ers'ministry,  viz :  in  the  year  1708,  that  the  second 
house  of  worshij)  has  been  usually  said  to  have  been 
erected.  Such  is  tlie  statement  of  Dr.  Macwhorter ; 
and  such  also  was  the  apparent  testimony  of  the  vane 
upon  the  steeple,  which  bore  upon  it,  within  the  mem- 
ory of  many  now  living,  the  figures  1708.  One  fact, 
however,  seems  strongly  to  oppose  that  opinion.  The 
records  of  the  town,  covering  that  period,  though  they 
contain  several  votes  relating  to  ecclesiastical  affairs, 
make  no  allusion  to  any  such  enterj)rise  ;  and  as  the 
statement  of  Dr.  Macwhorter  was  founded  upon  tradi- 
tion nearly  a  century  after  the  event,  and  the  figures 

*  During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Bowers,  Condit's  Mouumeutal  luscriptions. — Mr. 

or  the  vacancy  which  preceded  it,  a  few  S.  11.  Congar. 

more  deaths  of  first  settlers  appear  to        f  The  epitaph  of  Mr.  Bowers  is  as  fol- 

have  taken  place.     Samuel  Lyon  died  in  lows:  "  Here  lyeth  the  body  of  the  Rev. 

1706;  Jonathan  Sargeant  in  170'J;  Zecha-  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bowers,  pastor  of  the  church 

riah  Burwell  about  1712.    The  tomb-stone  in  this  place,  who  died  August  4,  Anno 

of  John  Treat  bears  the  following  inscrip-  Domini,  1716,  in  the  43d  year  of  bis  age." 

lion :    "  Here  lyes  interred  the  body  of  He  left  a  widow,  Hannah,  and  one  son, 

John  Treat,  Esq.,  aged  65  years,  who  de-  Nathaniel,  who  was  a  seaman. — S.  H.  Con- 

parted  this  life  August  the  1st,  1714."    Dr.  gar. 


SECOND  HOUSE  OF  WOESHIP.  119 

on  tlie  vane  may  have  derived  tlieir  origin  from  tlie 
same  source,  it  seems  probable  that  the  true  date  is 
somewhere  between  the  12th  of  April,  1714,  and  the 
10th  of  August,  1716,  when  a  vacancy  occurs  in  the 
records.  I  am  the  more  inclined  to  this  conclusion,  as 
one  of  the  first  entries  made  subsequently  to  that  pe- 
riod, is  the  choice  of  "  two  men  to  seat  the  three  men 
that  were  chosen  to  seat  the  meetinghouse,"*  showing 
that,  for  some  reason  or  other,  the  important  and  deli- 
cate office  of  "seating,"  had  just  been  formally  dis- 
charged— the  agents  in  the  work  alone  remaining  to 
be  disposed  of  by  still  other  authorities. 

The  edifice,  to  which  I  now  refer,  was  built  of  stone, 
about  forty-four  feet  square,  and  had  a  bell  in  the 
steeple  as  early  as  the  year  1735. f  Of  this  edifice  Dr. 
Macwhorter  observes  :  "  It  was  an  exceeding  great  ex- 
ertion of  the  people  to  erect  it,  and  it  was  the  most 
elegant  edifice  for  23ublic  worship  at  that  time  in  the 
Colony,  however  mean  it  may  now  be  considered. 
There  were  considerable  difficulties  and  contentions  in 
the  society  to  get  it  as  large  as  it  was.  It  was  hardly 
believed  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  would  ever 
be  so  numerous  as  to  fill  it."     The  tradition  which  he 

*  The  two  men  referred  to  are  Mr.  James  the  old  yard  where  formerly  stood  Whip- 

Nutman  and  Lieut.  John  Morris.     "  In  pany  Church,  said  to  have  been  the  first 

the  old  burj'ing  ground,  on  the  lot  of  the  settlement    made    west  of  the  Newark 

Nutman  family,  is  the  grave  of  the  Rev.  mountains." — i^.  II.  Cougar. 

Mr.  John  Nutman,  who  died  in  1751,  aged  t  March  11,  1734^5.     A  committee  was 

48.     According  to  a  notice   in   the  New  appointed  "  to  take  care  of  the   ringing  of 

Jersey  Historical  Collections,  p.  380,  he  the  bell,  and  sweeping  the  meetinghouse." 

was  minister  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  Two  years  later,  it  was  voted  "  that  Han- 

Whippany,  from  1730  to  1745,  probably  nah  Shingleton  should  sweep  the  meeting 

called  by  the  emigrants  to  that  region,  the  Yiov&a,  provided  she  sweej)-^  it  dean,  and  for 

Campfields  and  Kitchels,   and  Lindleys,  the  same  wages  as  it  was  done  for  last 

and  Cranes,  from  Newark,  who  sleep  in  year." 


120  FIKST  CHUECH  IN  OEANGE. 

relates,  that  "  wlien  the  walls  were  knee  high,  all  the 
inhabitants,  men,  women  and  children,  could  have  sat 
upon  the  same,"  does  not  accord  with  known  facts  re- 
specting the  number  of  people  in  the  town  about  that 
time,  and  must  therefore  be  regarded  as  somewhat  le- 
gendary. It  is  said  that  nearly  thirty  years  elapsed 
before  the  inside  was  entirely  finished.  This  house 
stood  on  the  west  side  of  Broad  street,  a  little  to  the 
north  of  the  spot  occupied  by  its  predecessor,  and 
being  converted  into  a  Court  House  after  the  year 
1791,  was  standing,  within  the  recollection  of  many 
who  are  now  living. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Bowers,  a  vacancy  occurred  in 
the  pastoral  office  of  about  two  years,  during  which 
time,  as  Dr.  Macwhorter  relates,  a  Mr.  Buckingham 
occupied  the  pulpit,  as  a  candidate  for  settlement,  and 
created  great  divisions  among  the  people.  Of  his  his- 
tory and  character,  we  learn  nothing,  except  the  simple 
statement  that  in  process  of  time  he  "  returned  to  New 
England,  where  he  obtained  a  settlement,  lived  useful, 
and  died  in  reputation."* 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  this  interval,  that  the 
first  separation  from  the  old  Church,  for  the  formation 
of  a  new  congregation,  took  place.  The  original 
boundaries  of  the  township,  which  extended,  as  ex- 
pressed in  the  deed,  "  to  the  foot  of  the  great  moun- 
tain called  Watchung,"  were,  by  a  subsequent  purchase 
of  the  Indians,  as  we  have  before  noticed,  in  the  year 
16V8,'t'  enlarged  to  the  top  of  the  mountain,  embracing 

*  Dr.  Macwhorter's  Century  Sermon.  +  March,  1677-8.    Newark  Town  Rec- 

ords. 


EEV.  JOSEPH  WEBB.  121 

the  territory  now  occupied  by  the  towns  of  Orange, 
South  Orange,  Bloomfield,  Belleville  and  Clinton.  In 
the  year  1G81,  an  order  was  given  for  laying  out  the 
highway  as  far  as  the  mountain.*  How  rapidly  the 
settlement  was  extended  in  that  direction  cannot  ac- 
curately be  determined.  As  late  as  the  year  1696, 
only  two  or  three  families  are  s]3oken  of  as  residing 
there.  But  in  1*715,  Azariah  Crane,  one  of  the  Dea- 
cons of  this  Church,  and  Edward  Ball,  one  of  its  ear- 
liest members,  speak  of  themselves  as  having  been 
"  settled  "  there  many  years.f  And''in  or  about  the  year 
1718,  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  town  having 
become  somewhat  numerous,  formed  a  distinct  religious 
organization,  which  was  known  at  first  and  for  many 
years  as  the  "Mountain  Society,"  and  afterwards  as 
the  "  Second  Church  in  Newark."  It  is  now  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Orange. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Webb — the  sixth  pastor — was, 
as  I  suppose,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Webb, 
of  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  one  of  the  original  founders 
of  Yale  College,  of  which  he  was  many  years  a 
trustee,  and  who  died  in  the  year  1732.  Mr.  Webb 
was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  of  the  year  1715.  He 
was  introduced  here  by  a  letter  from  Mr.  Andrew, 
proabably  the  Rev.  Samuel  Andrew,  of  Milford,  a  rel- 
ative of  some  of  the  old  settlers  of  Newark,  his  father's 
associate  in  the  government  of  the  College,  and  its 
temporary  Rector  at  the  time  of  his  own  graduation. 
This  letter  being  read  in  town  meeting  and  "  well  ac- 

*  Newark  Town  Records.  t  Newark  "  Town  Book." 


122 


ORDIlSrATIOlSr  OF  MR.  WEBB. 


cepted,"  it  was  voted,  December  16,  1718,  to  agree 
with  Mr.  Webb  for  three-quarters  of  a  year  on  trial, 
and  "  to  give  him,  for  the  time,  at  the  rate  of  seventy 
j)ounds  a  year."  Whether  this  became  his  permanent 
stipend  after  his  settlement,  and  whether  a  parsonage 
house  was  furnished  him  as  in  the  case  of  some  of  his 
predecessors,  the  record  of  no  further  act  of  the  town 
remains  to  inform  us.  His  salary,  however,  was  raised 
regularly,  from  year  to  year,  by  a  tax  upon  estates 
during  his  whole  ministry.  We  learn  from  Dr.  Mac- 
whorter,  that  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia  on  the  22d  of  October,  1*719,*  and  that 
the  ministers  present  at  his  ordination  were  Messrs. 
Joseph  Morgan,  Jonathan  Dickinson,  John  Pierson,  son 
of  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  junior,f  and  Robert  Orr. 
He  also  states  that  Mr.  Webb  was  settled  here  with 


*  This  accords  with  the  published  min- 
utes of  the  Synod ;  Mr.  Webb's  name  not 
appearing  either  as  present  or  absent  till 
the  meeting  in  September,  1720. 

t  Rev.  John  Pierson,  son  of  Abraham 
Pierson,  jr.,  was  born,  probably  in  Newark, 
in  the  year  1689,  and  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1711.  In  the  year  1717  he  was 
ordained  over  the  congregation  at  Wood- 
bridge,  as  appears  from  the  following 
*'  Memoranda :  Mr.  John  Pierson  having 
performed  those  acts  of  trial  assigned  him, 
viz.,  preached  ,a  popular  sermon,  from 
Tit.  iii :  8,  delivered  an  exegesis  on  that 
question,  a>i  ju  stlficaUo  nostra  sit  ah  a- 
ternoaut  in  tempore  priestita,  answered  to 
many  questions  touching  theological  mat- 
ters, and  also  discovered  his  skill  in  the 
original  languages  ;  all  which  being  done 
to  satisfaction,  the  said  Mr.  Pierson  was 
ordained  and  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry  at  Woodbridge  on  the  29th  day 
of  April,  1717,  by  Masters  Andrews,  Prid- 


den,  Morgan,  Orr  and  Dickinson,  before  a 
great  assembly."  Minutes  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia,  p.  43,  note. 

He  died  in  1770,  and  his  remains  lie 
buried  in  Hanover,  where  his  tomb-stone 
now  bears,  as  Mr.  Congar  informs  me, 
the  following  inscription : 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Pierson  died  Aug. 
23,  1770,  Aetatis  81,  who  was  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel  about  57  years.  He  was  an 
eminent  Divine ;  an  excellent  casuist;  a 
faithful,  searching  preacher ;  a  devout  and 
steadfast  Christian ;  an  undaunted  re- 
prover ;  a  peculiar  economist ;  stern  in 
his  behaviour,  yet  benevolent  and  kind. 
He  passed  many  scenes  of  life  without  a 
blemish  in  his  behaviour.  '  The  memory 
of  the  just  is  blessed.'  " 

Jlr.  Pierson,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter, 
was  for  many  years  associated  with  the 
pastors  of  (his  church  in  the  most  impor- 
tant ecclesiastical  transactions. 


INTEODUCTION  OF  PRESS YTERIANISM.  123 

great  unanimity,  and  for  some  years  tliere  was  much 
tranquility  and  comfort  in  the  town. 

As  tliis  is  tlie  first  instance,  wliicli  occurs  in  this  his- 
tory, of  an  ordination  by  act  of  Presbytery,  it  seems 
proper  to  inquire  here  for  the  origin  of  Presbyterian- 
ism  in  this  Church.  In  common  with*  most  of  the 
Churches  of  New  England,  it  was  established  origin- 
ally on  a  Congregational  basis.  Dr.  Macwhorter,  as 
we  have  seen,  stated  it,  as  a  tradition,  that  the  first 
pastor  was  inclined  to  Presbyterian^sm  ;  1  )ut  the  posi- 
tion which  he  occupied  among  parties,  strongly  indi- 
cates the  contrary — since  the  party  with  which  he 
identified  himself,  and  of  which  he  might  be  regarded 
as  a  leader,  was  the  one  farthest  removed  from  Pres- 
byterianism,  according  to  the  understanding  of  that 
day.  With  his  son,  the  second  pastor,  the  case  was 
different.  His  leanings,  as  we  have  already  shown, 
were  towards  that  system  ;  but  the  people  were  then 
strenuous  for  their  old  usages,  and  though  a  small 
party,  chiefly  from  Scotland,  were  already  among  them 
favorable  to  his  \aews,  the  jealousy  of  the  majority 
went  so  far  as  to  break  the  pastoral  relation.  The 
next  three  ministers  were  unquestionably  Congrega- 
tional.* Indeed,  except  in  the  traditions  above  re- 
ferred to,  we  find  no  trace  of  any  Presbyterial  rela- 
tions until  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Webb's  ordination. 

*  Dr.  Macwhorter  says,  "  it  may  be  ob-  came  to  Newark,  and  after  the  ministry  of 
served  that  these  three  last  ministers,  edvi-  both  the  other  two  was  closed;  and  so 
cated  in  Connecticut,  and  under  the  Say-  lar  as  its  influence  went,  its  manifest  ten- 
brook  platform,  seem  to  have  been  Con-  dency  must  have  been  to  prepare  the  way 
gregationalists."  Here  is  the  same  mis-  for  the  introduction  of  Presbyterianism, 
take  noticed  before,  respecting  the  in-  rather  than  to  retard  it.  (See  Trumbull's 
fluence  of  the  "  Platform."  It  was  not  Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  i,  pp.  482,  487,  488.) 
framed  till  just  before  the  last  of  the  three 


124  INTEODUCTION  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM. 

To  explain  the  mode  in  wliich  tlie  change  probably 
took  place,  it  is  necessary  to  take  into  view  tlie  history 
and  early  relations  of  these  two  denominations  in  our 
co-untry.  The  Congregational  was  for  many  years  the 
only  one  which  had  a  distinct  organization.  But, 
throughout  New  England,  there  was,  from  the  earliest 
times,  not  a  few,  both  of  ministers  and  people,  who 
were  more  or  less  inclined  to  Presbyterian  views.* 
Nor  does  there  appear  to  have  l^een,  between  the  two 
parties,  except  in  particular  instances,  any  considerable 
degree  of  partizan  feeling.  The  Congregationalists 
resented  the  charge  of  hostility  towards  the  Presbyte- 
rians, and  appealed  to  their  known  practice  as  witness- 
ing the  contrary.  As  early  as  the  year  1634,  a  party 
in  Scotland,  among  whom  were  distinguished  individ- 
uals of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  proposed  to  emigrate 
to  New  England,  with  the  express  design  of  establishing 
their  own  form  of  government  and  worship,  to  whom 
the  people  of  Massachusetts  promised  a  hearty  welcome 
and  the  free  exercise  of  their  Presbyterian  preferences.f 

*  Dr.  Hodge  states,  on  the  authority  of  lestation   or  disturbance,   and  have   and 

Cotton   Mather,   that  4,000  emigrants  of  find  as  good  respect  from  magistrates  and 

this  class  arrived  prior  to  1640.     (Const,  people  as  other  elders  in  the  Congrega- 

Hist., p.  39.)  tional  or  primitive  way."    "So 'tis  well 

t  See  "  Hypocrisy  Unveiled,"  by  Ed-  known,  that  before  these  unhappy  troubles 

ward  Winslow,  in  Young's  "  Chronicles  of  arose  in  England  and  Scotland,  there  were 

the  Pilgrims,"  pp.  402-3.     "  The  next  as-  divers  gentlemen  of  Scotland  that  groaned 

persion  cast  upon  us  is,  that  we  will  not  under  the  heavy  pressure  of  those  times, 

suffer  any  that  differ  from  us  never  so  lit-  wrote  to  know  whether  they  might  be 

tie,  to  reside  or  cohabit  with  us :  no  not  the  freely  suffered  to  exercise  their  Presbyte- 

Freshyterian  government,  which  difereth  rian  government  amongst  us ;  and  it  was 

so  little  from  us;  to  which  I  answer,  our  answered   aflSrmatively  that  they  might, 

practice  witnessefh  the  contrary,  for  'tis  And   they   sending  over  a  gentleman  to 

well  known  that  Mr.  Parker  and  Mr.  Noyes,  take  a  view  of  some  tit  place,  a  river  called 

who  are  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ  at  New-  ^Nleromeck,  (Merrimac, )  near  Ipswich  and 

berry,  are  in  that  way,  and  so  known,  so  Newberry    aforesaid,  was    shewed  their 

far  as  a  single  congregation  can  be  exer-  agent,  which  he  well  liked,  and  where  we 

cised  in  it ;  yet  never  had  the  least  mo-  have  four  towns    settled,  and  more    for 


INTRODUCTION  OF  PKESBYTERIANISM.  125 

And,  tlioiigli  tliis  company  were  providentially  de- 
tained, and  tliu^s  tlie  organization  of  a  distinct  Presby- 
terian Cliurcli  probably  delayed,  it  was  no  secret  that 
the  Congregational  Churches  contained  Presbyterian 
elements,  and  were  modified  more  or  less  in  their  con- 
stitution, by  deference  to  Presbyterian  predilections. 
The  system  of  Church  policy  called  the  Saybrook  Plat- 
form, which  subsequently  came  to  j^revail  in  the 
Churches  of  Connecticut,  was  probably  intended  to 
occupy  a  middle  ground  between  tha  two  systems.* 

Such  was  the  state  of  the  case,  when  a  lars^e  emisfra- 
tion  of  the  Scotch  and  Huguenots  began  to  occupy  the 
Middle  and  Southern  States.  In  New  Jersey,  the 
Scotch  began  to  arrive  in  great  numbers  from  and  af- 
ter the  year  1682,  when  the  twenty-four  Proprietors, 
half  of  whom  were  of  Scotland,  assumed  the  direction 
of  the  Pro\dnce.f     About  the  commencement  of  the 

aught  I  know  ;  so  that  there  they  might  century  later,  Presbyterianism  in  its  com- 
have  had  a  compUte  Pveshi/tery,  and  plete  form  was  introduced  into  that  region 
whither  they  intended  to  have  come.  But  by  causes  entirely  independent  of  both, 
meeting  with  manifold  crosses,  being  half  The  Presbytery  of  Ncwburyport  flourish- 
seas  through,  they  gave  over  their  intend-  ed  on  that  ground  for  nearly  thirty  years, 
ments;  and,  as  I  have  heard,  these  were  and  at  the  present  moment,  I  believe,  the 
many  of  the  gentlemen  that  first  fell  upon  only  churches  of  that  denomination  in 
the  late  covenant  in  Scotland."  In  the  Massachusetts  are  the  two  Presbyterian 
records  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachu-  Churches  of  that  city, 
setts,  September,  1634,  is  found  the  fol-  *  Trumbull  says  (Hist.  Conn.,  vol.  i,  p. 
lowing:  "It  is  ordered  that  the  Scottish  487,)  "Though  the  Council  were  unani- 
and  Irish  gentlemen  who  intend  to  come  mous  in  passing  the  platform  of  discipline, 
hither  shall  have  liberty  to  set  down  upon  yet  they  were  not  all  of  one  opinion, 
anyplace  upon  Merrimack  river,  not  pos-  Some  were  for  high  consociational  gov- 
sessed  by  any."  (See  CoflBn's  History  of  ernment,  and  in  their  sentiments  nearly 
Newbury,  pp.  12, 13.)  It  would  seem  as  Presbyterian  ;  others  were  much  more 
if  this  spot  about  the  mouth  of  the  Mer-  moderate,  and  rather  verging  on  Indepea- 
rimack,  thus  devoted  to  Presbyterianism  dency,  but  exceedingly  desirous  of  keeping 
by  the  Congregational  fathers,  had  had  an  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
aflBnity  for  Presbyterian  institutions  ever  peace,  they  exercised  great  Christian  con- 
since.  The  settlement  of  Parker  and  descension  and  amicableness  towards  each 
Noyes  there  had  no  connection  whatever  other." 
with  the  incident  above  stated;    and  a  t  Whitehead,  pp.  88,103. 


126  INTRODUCTION  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM. 

eighteenth  century,  Presbyterian  Churches  of  a  decided 
character  began  to  be  organized.  The  first  Presbytery 
ever  formed  in  this  country  was  that  of  Philadelphia, 
which  originated  in  the  year  1705  or  1706,*  and  con- 
sisted at  first  of  seven  ministers,  all  but  one  of  whom 
were  of  Scotch  or  Scotch-Irish  origin.f  From  this 
time,  the  current  in  this  region  set  in  an  opposite  di- 
rection from  that  which  it  had  taken  in  New  England. 
The  Presbyterian  elements,  being  the  stronger,  ab- 
sorbed the  Congregational ;  and,  one  after  another,  the 
old  Congregational  Churches  of  East  Jersey,  with 
their  ministers,  most  of  whom  had  been  educated  in 
New  England,  joined  the  Presbytery  and  adopted  the 
Presbyterian  government  and  discipline.  This  they 
could  do,  without  abandoning  any  of  their  fundamen- 
tal principles. J  The  chief  difference  recognized  had 
reference  to  the  admission  of  persons  to  sealing  ordin- 
ances and  the  degree  of  power  w^hich  should  be 
given  to  elders  and  synods  ;  and  that  was  readily  ad- 
justed, probably  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  parties.  In 
doctrine,  both  stood   upon  the  same  platform.     The 

*  Minutes,  p.  6.  ings  towards  his  Congregational  brethren 
t  Hodge's  Constitutional  History,  p.  88.  may  be  judged  of  by  a  passage  in  his  will, 
Among  the  fathers  of  the  Presbyterian  wherein  he  gives  his  library  "  to  Mr.  An- 
Church,  none  stand  more  prominent  than  drews,  and  after  his  decease  or  removal, 
Francis  Makemie  and  Jedediah  Andrews,  to  such  minister  or  ministers  as  shall  suc- 
pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Philadel-  ceed  him  in  that  place  and  office,  and  to 
phia;  the  former  a  native  of  Scotland  or  such  only  as  shall  be  of  the  Presbyterian 
the  north  of  Ireland,  the  latter  of  Massa-  or  Independent  persuasion,  and  none  else." 
chusetts;  the  former,  by  all  his  habits  and  Foote's  Sketches  of  Virginia,  p.  57. 
preferences,  a  thorough  Presbyterian  ;  the  X  The  extract  already  made  from  the 
latter  inclined,  from  early  education,  to  writings  of  Jonathan  Dickinson  shows 
Congregational  usages.  The  affection  of  the  views  with  which  he  entered  the  Pres- 
these  two  excellent  men  towards  each  byterian  Church.  He  considered  both  de- 
other  is  an  example  to  all  parties  in  the  nominations  as 'embarked  on  one  bottom.' 
Church  they  founded.     Makemie's  feel- 


THE   CHURCH   JOINS  THE  PRESBYTERY.  127 

cliurcli  in  Woodbridge  became  connected  with  the 
Presbytery  as  early  as  1708,  though  it  still  retained 
some  of  its  Congregational  usages  ;  and  that  of  Eliza- 
bethtown  appears,  with  its  pastor,*  at  the  forming  of 
the  first  synod,  called  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  in 
1717. 

The  precise  time  at  which  this  church  united  with 
the  Presbytery,  owing  to  the  loss  of  records,f  cannot 
now  be  ascertained.  Dr.  Macwhorter  says  it  was  in 
1716  ;  but  the  records  of  that  period  are  still  extant, 
and  contain  nothing  to  confirm  his  tradition.  It  is 
hardly  probable  that  it  took  place  during  the  ministry 
of  Mr.  Bowers ;  though  the  incipient  steps  towards  it 
may  have  been  taken  during  the  contentions  about 
Mr.  Buckingham,  when,  as  we  are  informed  by  the 
the  same  authority,  one  of  the  parties  apj)lied  to  the 
Presbytery  for  advice.  However,  the  way  had  been 
preparing  for  such  a  step  from  the  very  first  introduc- 
tion of  the  Presbyterian  polity  in  this  region.  Scotch 
families,  and  2:>robably  with  decided  Scotch  predilec- 
tions, formed  a  part  of  the  population  of  Newark  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  were  in- 
termingled extensively  by  marriage  with  the  families 
of  the  first  settlers.J  We  have  already  noticed  that 
Francis  Makemie,  the  father  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  had  friends  and  partizans  in  Newark,  when  he 
first  visited  this  part  of  the  country  in  1708.     As  the 

*  Minutes,  p.  46.  John  Ward,  senior.    Jomcs  Clisbe  mar- 
t  The  minutes  of  the  Presbytery    of  ried  Elizabeth,    daughter    of    Zechariah 
Philadelphia  from  1717  to  1733  are  lost.  Btrrwell.    Robert  Young,  a  daughter  of 
Hodge's  Const.  Hist.,  p.  I!t3.  Benjamin  Baldwin  ;  and  James  Nutman  a 
X  Samuel  Nesbit  married  a  daughter  of  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Prudden.     (New- 
Samuel  Harrison,  and  granddaughter  of  ark  Town  Book.) — S,  H.  Congar. 


128  STATE  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCHES. 

death  of  Mr.  Bowers,  the  last  of  the  Congregational 
ministers,  which  occurred  just  about  the  time  of  the 
formation  of  the  first  synod,  left  the  way  open  for 
any  new  arrangement  which  might  seem  desirable,  the 
probability  is,  that  the  ]3eople  availed  themselves  of  the 
first  favorable  opportunity  to  connect  themselves  with 
what  they  doubtless  regarded  as  in  the  fullest  sense 
their  sister  Churches  in  this  and  the  neighboring  Prov- 
inces. The  change,  if  change  it  may  be  called,  grew 
out  of  the  course  of  events,  and  was  natural,  easy, 
and  excited  little  discussion. 

The  first  appearance  of  Mr.  Webb  in  the  Synod  was 
in  the  year  1720 ;  and  from  that  time  to  the  present 
the  Church  has  been  very  regularly  represented,  both 
in  the  Presbyteries  and  other  judicatories  with  which 
from  time  to  time  it  has  been  connected.  Indeed, 
both  in  its  internal  and  external  relations,  it  has  been, 
during  that  whole  period  of  a  hundred  and  thirty 
years,  one  of  the  most  consistent  and  thoroughly  Pres- 
byterian of  the  Presbyterian  Churches. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  large,  during  Mr. 
Webb's  connection  with  it,  was  still  in  a  feeble  and 
forming  state.  A  large  part  of  the  territory  occupied 
by  its  members  might  be  regarded  as  missionary 
ground.  Most  of  the  congregations  were  probably  small, 
and  the  supply  of  ministers  was  inadequate.  Very 
soon  after  its  formation,  the  Synod  had  commenced  a 
small  fund  for  the  relief  of  the  destitute,  but  finding 
their  own  resources  altogether  insufficient,  they  made 
application  by  letters,  in  the  year  liTlS,  to  the  Pres- 


DIFFICULTY   ABOUT   CANDIDATES.  129 

bytery  of  Dublin,  the  Synod  of  Glasgow,  and  the  Dis- 
senting Ministers  of  London,  for  their  assistance.  Suc- 
cessful in  this  effort,  their  next  recourse  was  to  re- 
newed exertions  among  themselves.  Accordingly,  in 
the  year  1719,  the  year  of  Mr.  Webb's  ordination,  a 
letter  was  addressed  to  the  several  congregations  con- 
nected with  the  Synod,  containing  the  following  lan- 
guage :  "  Inasmuch  as  it  seems  to  us  unreasonable  and 
unjustifiable  to  apply  to  other  places  in  this  affair,  and 
ourselves,  who  are  more  immediately  concerned,  to 
hold  our  hands,  we  determined  to  request  the  charity 
of  our  respective  congregations  in  the  premises,  that 
they  would  yearly  make  a  collection  for  the  car- 
rying on  of  the  said  noble  and  pious  design  of  plant- 
ing and  spreading  the  everlasting  Gospel  in  these 
Provinces."  It  is  a  matter  of  satisfaction  to  find  by 
the  minutes  of  the  Synod,  that  among  the  eight,  who, 
in  response  to  this  call,  brought  in  the  first  annual  con- 
tribution for  so  worthy  a  purpose,  the  name  of  our  own 
congregation  stands  recorded."^ 

No  small  difficulty  was  experienced  about  this  time 
in  ascertaining  the  character  of  candidates  who  offered 
themselves  for  employment  as  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 
Most  of  them  were  foreigners,  and  some  brought  only 
doubtful  credentials.  Others,  who  at  first  promised 
fair,  disappointed  the  expectations  of  their  brethren. 
Among  the  number  was  a  candidate  by  the  name  of 
Walton,  who,  having  been  guilty  of  miscarriages  here 
in  Newark,  was  suspended,  by  the  Presbytery  to  which 

*  See  Minutes,  pp.  56,  63. 


130  DIFFERENCES   ABOUT   GOVERNMENT. 

he  belonged,  from  the  functions  of  the  ministry.  The 
affair  coming  up  in  the  Synod  in  the  year  1722,  he  be- 
haved himself  very  contemptuously  ;  but  after  consid- 
erable conference,  as  he  seemed  more  disposed  to  sub- 
mit to  discipline,  the  Synod  appointed  one  of  their 
number  to  read  his  confession  and  acknowledgment  to 
the  congregation  among  whom  the  offences  were  com- 
mitted, and  on  condition  of  his  personally  and  pub- 
licly assenting  to  it  as  his  own,  authorized  their  com- 
missioner to  take  off  the  suspension.  But  when  the 
appointed  time  came,  the  commissioner  to  whom  this 
duty  was  assigned,  being  unable  to  be  in  Newark  on 
account  of  sickness,  thereupon  the  delinquent  candi- 
date assumed  the  responsibility  of  reading  his  own 
confession  and  absolving  himself.  In  consequence  of 
this  procedure  new  difficulties  arose,  and  the  process 
of  discipline  was  continued  for  some  time ;  until  at 
length  the  recreant  minister  disowned  the  Synod's  au- 
thority, and  in  an  angry  manner 'broke  away  from 
their  connection.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that 
the  affiiir  caused  any  serious  disturbance  in  this  con- 
gregation.''" 

About  this  time  some  serious  difference  of  opinion 
respecting  the  government  of  the  Church  threatened 
to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Synod.  One  portion  of 
the  members,  among  whom  w^ere  the  leading  ministers 
of  this  vicinity,  leaned  to  the  largest  safe  and  pratica- 
ble  liberty  ;  while  the  other  were  probably  more 
anxious  to  secure  the  benefit  of  a  strong  and  vigorous 

*  Minutes,  p.  C8. 


Gillespie's  overtuee.  131 

system.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  1721,  the 
Kev.  George  Gillespie,  of  White  Clay,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  offered  an  overture,  the  effect  of  which  was 
to  give  to  each  member-  free  oj^portunity  to  bring  in 
any  proposition  which  he  might  see  fit,  with  a  view  to 
its  being  enacted  into  a  law  or  standing  rule,  called,  in 
the  technical  phraseology  of  the  times,  an  act^  by  the 
Synod.^^  Startled  1)y  a  proposition  which  seemed  to 
open  the  way  for  unlimited  legislation,  and  perhaps 
apprehending  its  design  to  be  t^e  introduction  of  a 
more  vigorous  government  than  had  hitherto  been 
practiced,  six  of  the  members,  among  whom  were  the 
moderator,  Rev.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  and  the  clerk. 
Rev.  David  Evans,  immediately  upon  its  adoption  by 
the  Synod,  entered  their  protest  against  it.  Mr.  Webb 
was  among  the  subscribers  to  this  protest.  The  Synod 
received  it,  appointed  one  of  their  number  to  answer 
it,  and  laid  it  aside  for  future  action.  Fortunately,  a 
spirit  of  mutual  conciliation  seems  in  a  high  degree  to 
have  animated  these  revered  fathers  of  the  Presbyte- 

*  Dr.  Hodge,  in  his  Constitutional  His-  by  the  Synod,  for  the  better  carrying  on 

torj'  of  the  Presbj'terian  Church,  p.  140,  in  the  matters  of  our  government  and  dis- 

explains  the  term  thus :  "  Any  proposition  pline,  that  he  may  bring  it  in  against  next 

containing  a  lule  of  action,  enacted  by  an  Synod." 

ecclesiastical  body,  obligatory  on  its  mem-  "  The  overture  was  carried  in  the  afiirm- 

bers  or  inferior  judicatories,  is  called  an  ative  by  a  maji^rity  of  votes,  and  ordered 

act."  by  vote  to  be  recorded." 

The  overture  of  Mr.  Gillespie  with  the  "  Mr.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  Mr.  Malachi 
action  thereupon,  as  appears  by  the  rec-  Jones,  Mr.  Joseph  Morgan,  Mr.  John  Pier- 
ords,  is  as  follows :  "As  we  have  been  for  son,  Mr.  David  Evans,  and  Mr.  Joseph 
many  years  in  the  exercise  of  Presbyterian  Webb  entered  their  protestation  against 
government  and  Church  discipline,  as  ex-  the  above  mentioned  act  and  the  recording 
ercised  bv  the  Presbyterians  in  the  best  of  it,  and  gave  in  the  reasons  of  their  pro- 
reformed  Churches,  as  far  as  the  nature  test,  which  are  in  retentU." 
and  constitution  of  this  country  will  allow,  "  Ordered  that  Mr.  McGill  and  Mr.  Mc- 
our  opinion  is  that  if  any  brother  have  any  Nish  draw  up  answers  to  the  above  said 
overture  to  offer,  to  be  formed  into  an  act  protest."— Minutes,  p.  66. 


132  DIFFICULTIES     SETTLED. 

rian  Church.  For  we  learn  that  at  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Synod,  the  answer  having  been  prepared  and 
and  presented,  and  the  case  deferred  from  day  to  day, 
awaiting  a  favorable  opportunity,  the  protesting 
brethren  brought  in  a  paper  of  exj^lanations,  contain- 
ing four  articles,  on  the  basis  of  which  they  were  will- 
ing to  acquiesce  in  the  decision  of  the  Synod.  In  this 
paper  is  to  be  found  a  very  fall  acknowledgment  of 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Presbyterian  system. 
And  as  to  the  right  of  making  rules  for  the  regulation 
of  its  members  and  inferjor  judicatories,  they  had  no  dis- 
position to  deny  that  to  the  Synod,  provided  such  rules 
were  not  imposed  upon  such  as  should  conscientiously 
dissent  from  them.  On  the  basis  of  these  articles, 
which  the  Synod  did  not  hesitate  to  approve  and  re- 
cord, both  the  protest,  with  its  reasons  and  the  answer 
which  had  been  prepared,  were  withdrawn — the  act  in 
dispute  was  ordered  to  remain  in  all  respects  just  as  it 
was,  and  one  thing  being  left  to  explain  and  qualify 
the  other,  "  the  Synod,"  says  the  record,  "  were  so  uni- 
versally pleased  with  the  above  said  composure  of 
their  difference,  that  they  unanimously  joined  together 
in  a  thanksgiving,  prayer,  and  joyful  singing  of  the  one 
hundred  and  thirty-third  Psalm."  So  auspiciously 
passed  away  the  first  heavy  thunder-cloud  which 
menaced  the  peace  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr.  Webb  being  absent,*  his  name  is  not  affixed  to  the 
articles,  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  concurred 

*  From  the  record  under  the  same  date,  sence  from  the  Synod,  was  produced  by 
we  learn,  that  "  a  letter  from  Mr.  Jo.  Mr.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  and  the  reasons 
seph  Webb,  containing  his  reasons  for  ab-    were  sustained." — Minutes,  p.  67. 


ADOPTING   ACT.  133 

witli  his  friend  Dickinson,  by  whom  they  were  proba- 
bly composed.* 

But  a  still  more  important  measure  was  now  soon  to 
be  agitated.  Hitherto  the  Church  had  had  no  ac- 
knowledged form  of  government,  and  no  explicit  Con- 
fession of  Faith.  The  general  principles  of  the  Pres- 
byterian polity  regulated  their  practice ;  and  as  to  doc- 
trine, they  all  agreed  in  holding  the  system  generally 
denominated  Calvinistic.  But  now  an  effort  was  made 
to  secure  some  more  definite  standards,  and  a  proposi- 
tion was  introduced  into  the  Synod,  to  require  all  its 
members  to  subscribe  the  Westminster  Confession. 
Not  to  be  hasty  in  so  important  a  matter,  the  case  was 
laid  over  for  one  year,  and  measures  taken  to  secure  a 
full  meeting  of  the  Synod.  Meanwhile,  great  was  the 
agitation  which  subsisted  among  the  members.  All 
the  New  England  men  were  opposed  to  the  measure, 
and  all  the  Scotch  and  Irish  were  in  favor  of  it,  Mr. 
Dickinson    was    particularly   repugnant   to   it  ;    not 

*  The  articles  of  Mr.  Dickinson  are  as  these  acts  be  not  imposed  upon  such  as 

follows:  conscientiously  dissent  from  them. 

"1.  We  freely  grant  that  there  is  full  ex-  "3.  We  also  grant  that  Synods  may  com- 

ecutive  power  of  Church   government  in  pose  directories,  and  recommend  them  to 

Presbyteries  and  Synods,  and  that  they  all  their  members,  respecting  all  the  parts 

may  authoritatively,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  of  discipline,  provided  that  all  subordinate 

use  the  keys  of  Church  discipline  to  all  judicatories  may   decline  from   such   di- 

proper  intents  and  purposes,  and  that  the  rectories  when  they  conscientiously  think 

keys  of  the  Church  are  committed  to  the  they  have  just  reason  so  to  do, 

Church  officers,  and  them  only.  "4.  We  freely  allow  that  appeals  may  be 

"  2.  We  also  grant  that  the  merecircum-  made  from  all  inferior  to  superior  judica- 

stantials  of  Church  discipline,  such  as  the  tories,  and  that  superior  judicatories  have 

time,  place  and  mode  of  carrying  on  the  authority  to  consider  aud  determine  such 

government  of  the  Church,  belong  to  eccle-  appeals. 

slastical  judicatories  to  determine,  as  oc-  Mai.achi  Jones, 

casions  occur,  conformable  to  the  general  Joskph  Morgan, 

rules  in  the  Word  of  CJod,  that  require  all  Joxathan    Dickinson. 

things  to  be  done  decently  and  in  order.  David  Evans. 

And  if  these  things  are  called  aci^s  we  will  (Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia, 

take  no  offence  at  the  word,  provided  that  p.  72.) 


134  ADOPTING   ACT. 

because  he  or  his  brethren  had  any  dislike  to  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Confession,  for  they  were  all  as  thorough- 
going Calvinists  as  any  of  their  brethren;  but  they 
were  apprehensive  that  the  measure  would  infringe  on 
Christian  liberty.  "  They  say  they  are  willing,"  says 
one  of  their  number,*  "to  join  in  a  vote  to  make  it 
the  Confession  of  our  Church ;  but  to  agree  to  make 
it  a  test  of  orthodoxy  and  a  term  of  ministerial  com- 
munion they  will  not."  Suspicions  were  afloat  that 
one  of  the  designs  of  the  proposition  was  to  produce  a 
separation  and  compel  the  natives  of  New  England  to 
secede  from  their  more  strenuous  brethren.  Even  the 
peace-loving  and  conciliatory  Andrews,  of  Philadel- 
phia, though  he  was  not  willing  to  admit  there  was 
any  such  deliberate  design,  especially  as  far  as  himself 
was  concerned,  felt  constrained  to  believe,  as  he  con- 
fesses, "  that  some  of  us  are  an  uneasiness  to  them,  and 
are  thought  to  be  in  their  way  sometimes,  so  that  I 
think  'twould  be  no  trouble  to  them  to  lose  some  of 
us" — "  our  countrymen  being  scarcely  able  to  hold  a 
way  with  the  other  brethren  in  all  their  disciplinary 
and  legislative  notions."  This  excellent  man,  burdened 
with  apprehensions  upon  the  matter,  which,  says  he, 
"  lies  heavy  on  my  mind,"  dreading  the  scandal  of  a 
division,  and  yet  almost  prepared  to  submit  to  it  as  an 
unavoidable  e\'il,  wrote  a  letter  to  Dr.  Coleman,  of 
Boston,  in  which  he  pours  out  his  anxieties  with  fra- 
ternal confidence,  and  seeks  advice  as  to  the  course 
which  he  should  follow.f     Pemberton,  of  New  York, 

*  Rev.  Jedediah  Andrews  of  Philadel-        +  It  may  seem  to  some  almost  niiac- 
phia.    See  his  letter,  p.  135,  note.  couutablc  that  any  man    who   believes 


ADOPTING    ACT. 


135 


visiting  Boston,  took  occasion  to  consult  the  same 
eminent  adviser.  Perhaps  there  was  no  crisis  in  the 
whole  early  history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  when 
a  serious  schism  w^as  so  narrowly  escaped.  When  the 
case  came  up  for  final  decision,  Mr.  Andi'ews  was  chair- 
man and  Mr.  Dickinson  a  member,  with  others,  of  a 
committee  to  whom  the  proposition  was  referred.     Af- 


ex  animo  the  doctrines  of  a  Confession, 
and  is  willing  to  have  all  the  world  know 
it,  should  yet  scruple  at  unqualified  sub- 
scription, and  doubt  the  wisdom  of 
making  an  extended  and  elaborate  creed 
a  test  of  orthodoxy.  And  yet  I  apprehend 
there  are  many  excellent  men,  especially 
in  New  England,  who  can  sympathize 
very  fully  with  the  revered  father  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Philadelphia,  as  his 
views  are  expressed  in  the  following  let- 
ter, an  attentive  perusal  of  which  will  aid 
in  justly  estimating  the  theological  posi- 
tion of  such  men : 

"  Extract  from  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Jed- 
ediah  Andrews  to  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Coleman  at  Boston,  dated  Philadelphia, 
April  7,  1727. 

"  As  to  aflairs  here,  we  are  engaged  in 
the  enlargement  »f  our  house,  and  by  the 
assistance  we  had  from  Boston,  I  hope  we 
shall  go  on  comfortably  with  that  work. 
The  stone  work  at  the  foundation  is  laid, 
and  all  the  the  materials  are  getting 
ready.  We  are  now  likely  to  fall  into  a 
great  difference  about  subscribing  the 
Westminster  Confession  of  Faith.  The 
overture  for  it,  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, of  Lewistown,  was  offered  to  the 
Synod  a  year  before  last,  but  not  then  read 
in  Synod.  Means  were  then  used  to  stave 
it  off,  and  I  was  in  hopes  we  should  have 
heard  no  more  of  it.  But  last  Synod  it 
was  brought  again,  recommended  by  all 
the  Scotch  and  Irish  present,  and  being 
read  amongst  us,  a  proposal  was  made, 
prosecuted  and  agreed  to,  that  it  should 
be  deferred  till  our  next  meeting  for  fur- 
ther consideration.  The  proposal  is  that 
all  the  ministers  and  intrants  shall  sign 
it,  or  else  be  disowned  as  members.   Now 


what  shall  we  do?  They  will  certainly 
carry  it  by  numbers.  Our  countrymen 
say  they  are  willing  to  join  in  a  vote  to 
make  it  tfte  Confession  of  our  Churches ; 
but  to  agree  to  making  it  the  test  of  or- 
thodoxy and  term  of  ministerial  com- 
munion, they  will  not.  I  think  all  the 
Scots  are  on  one  side,  and  all  the  English 
and  Welsh  on  the  other,  to  a  man.  Nev- 
ertheless, I  am  not  so  determined  as  to  be 
incapable  to  receive  advice,  and  I  give 
you  this  account,  that  I  may  have  your 
judgment  as  to  what  I  had  best  do  in  the 
matter.  Supposing  I  do  believe  it,  shall 
I  on  the  terms  above  mentioned  subscribe 
or  not?  I  earnestly  desire  you  by  the 
first  opportunity  to  send  me  your  opinion. 
Our  brethren  have  got  the  overture,  with 
a  preface  to  it,  printed,  and  I  intend  to 
send  you  one  for  the  better  regulation  of 
your  thoughts  about  it  Some  say  the  de- 
sign of  this  motion  is  to  spew  out  our 
countrymen,  they  being  scarce  able  to  hold 
a  way  with  the  other  brethren  in  all  their 
disciplinary  and  legislative  notions.  What 
truth  there  may  be  in  this,  I  know  not. 
Some  deny  it ;  whereas  some  say  there  is 
something  in  it.  I  am  satisfied  some  of 
us  are  an  uneasiness  to  them,  and  are 
thought  to  be  too  much  in  their  way 
sometimes,  so  that  I  think  'twould  be  no 
trouble  to  lose  some  of  us.  Yet  I  can't  think 
this  to  be  the  thing  ultimately  designed, 
whatever  smaller  glances  there  may  be  at 
it.  I  have  no  thought  that  they  have  any 
design  against  me  in  particular.  I  have 
no  reason  for  it.  This  business  lies  heavy 
on  my  mind,  and  I  desire  we  may  be  di- 
rected in  it,  that  we  may  not  bring  a  scan- 
dal on  our  profession.  Though  I  have 
been  sometimes  an  instrument  of  keeping 


136  ADOPTING   ACT. 

ter  consultation,  these  men  brought  in  a  minute,  which 
with  some  debate  was  adopted.  It  contains  a  decision 
on  the  main  question  in  the  following  words :  "All  the 
members  of  this  Synod,  or  that  shall  hereafter  be  ad- 
mitted into  this  Synod,  shall  declare  their  agreement 
in  and  approbation  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  with 
the  larger  and  shorter  Catechisms  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines  at  Westminster,  as  being,  in  all  the  essential 
and  necessary  articles,  good  forms  of  sound  words  and 
systems  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  do  also  adopt  the 
said  Confession  and  Catechisms  as  the  confession  of  our 
faith."  As  to  the  determination  of  the  question,  what 
were  to  be  regarded  as  necessary  and  essential,  that 
was  left  to  the  Synod  or  Presbytery,  as  the  case  might 
be,  after  heaiing  the  scruples  of  the  candidate.  With 
a  mutual  pledge  to  use  no  opprobrious  terms  or  allow 
any  abatement  of  fraternal  kindness  on  account  of 
differences  in  extra  essential  and  not  necessary  points 
of  doctrine,"  these  worthy  men  at  once  proceeded  to 
bring  forth  their  scruples,  and  having  adjusted  that 
matter,  all  present,  with  a  single  exception,  declared 
the  said  Confession  and  Catechisms  to  be  the  confession 
of  their  faith ;  and  the  Adopting  Act  became  thence- 
forth a  fundamental  article  of  the  Constitution  of  the 

them  together  when  they  were  like  to  fall  tested  business  than  any  other  minister 
to  pieces,  I  have  little  hope  of  doing  so  of  our  number.  I  am  afraid  of  the  event, 
now.  If  it  were  not  for  the  scandal  of  a  However,  I  will  endeavor  to  do  as  near  as 
division,  I  should  not  be  much  against  it ;  I  can  what  I  understand  to  be  duty,  and 
for  the  diflFerent  countrymen  seem  to  be  leave  the  issue  with  Providence, 
most  delighted  in  one  another,  and  to  do  "P.  S.  Ten  days  ago  was  buried  Mr- 
best  when  they  are  by  themselves.  My  Mai.  Jones,  an  old  Welch  minister.  He 
congregation  being  made  up  of  divers  na-  was  a  good  man,  and  did  good.  He  lived 
tions,  of  different  sentiments,  this  brings  about  11  miles  from  this  town." 
tne  under  a  greater  diflBculty  in  this  con-  (See  Hodge's  Const.  Hist.,  p.  168.) 


ADOPTING   ACT. 


137 


Presbyterian  Church.'^  "  The  Synod,"  observes  tbe  re- 
cord, "  observing  tbat  unanimity,  peace  and  unity  which 
appeared  in  all  their  consultations  and  determinations 


*  The  Adopting  Act  of  1729  is  so  im- 
portant a  feature  in  the  history  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  these  United 
states,  as  to  deserve  a  place  in  every  local 
history  of  the  Church  covering  the  same 
period.     It  stands  on  record  thus: 

"  The  Committee  brought  in  an  overture 
upon  the  affairs  of  the  Confession,  which 
after  long  debating  upon  it,  was  agreed 
upon  in  hax  verla. 

"Although  the  Synod  do  not  claim  or  pre- 
tend to  any  authority  of  imposing  our  faith 
upon  other  men's  consciences,  but  do  pro- 
fess our  just  dissatisfaction  with,  and  ab- 
horrence of  such  impositions,  and  do  ut- 
terly disclaim  all  legislative  power  and 
authority  in  the  Church,  being  willing  to 
receive  one  another  as  Christ  has  received 
us  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  admit  to  fel- 
lowship in  sacred  ordinances  all  such  as 
we  have  grounds  to  believe  Christ  will  at 
last  admit  to  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,  yet 
we  are  undoubtedly  obliged  to  take  care 
that  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints 
be  kept  pure  and  uncorrupt  among  us,  and 
so  handed  down  to  our  posterity.  And  do 
therefore  agree  that  all  the  ministers  of 
this  Synod,  or  that  shall  hereafter  be  ad- 
mitted into  this  Synod,  shall  declare  their 
agreement  in,  and  approbation  of  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  with  the  Larger  and 
Shorter  Catechism  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines at  Westminster,  as  being  in  all  the 
essential  and  necessary  articles,  good 
forms  of  sound  words  and  systems  of 
Christian  doctrine,  and  do  also  adopt  the 
said  Confession  and  Catechisms  as  the 
Confession  of  our  Faith.  And  we  do  also 
agree,  that  all  the  Presbyteries  within  our 
bounds  shall  always  take  care  not  to  ad- 
mit any  candidate  for  the  ministry  into  the 
exercise  of  the  sacred  function,  but  what 
declares  his  agreement  in  opinion  with  all 
the  essential  and  necessary  articles  of  said 
Confession,  either  by  subscribing  the  said 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms,  or  by 
a  verbal  declaration  of  their  assent  there- 


to as  such  minister  or  candidate  shall 
think  best.  And  in  case  any  member  of 
this  Synod,  or  candidate  for  the  ministry 
shall  have  any  scruple  with  respect  to  any 
article  or  articles  of  said  Confession  or  Cat- 
echisms, he  shall  at  the  time  of  his  making 
said  declaration,  declare  his  sentiments 
to  the  Presbytery  or  Synod,  who  shall, 
notwithstanding,  admit  him  to  the  exer- 
cise of  the  ministry  within  our  bouuds, 
and  to  miilisterial  communion,  if  the  Syn- 
od or  Presbytery  shall  judge  his  scruple 
or  mistake  to  be  only  about  articles  not 
essential  and  necessary  in  doctrine,  wor- 
ship or  government.  But  if  the  Synod  or 
Presbytery  shall  judge  such  ministers  or 
candidates  erroneous  in  essential  aud  ne- 
cessary articles  of  faith,  the  Synod  or 
Presbytery  shall  declare  them  uncapable 
of  communion  with  them.  And  the  Syn- 
od do  solemnly  agiee,  that  none  of  us  will 
traduce  or  use  any  opprobrious  terms  of 
those  that  differ  from  us  in  these  extra  es- 
sential and  not  necessary  points  of  doc- 
trine, but  treat  them  with  the  same  friend- 
ship, kindness  and  brotherly  love,  as  if 
they  had  not  differed  from  us  in  such  sen- 
timents."   Minutes,  p.  92.) 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  it  is 
recorded,  that  "  All  the  ministers  now 
present,  except  one,  who  declared  himself 
not  prepared,  after  proposing  all  the  scru- 
ples that  any  of  them  had  to  make  against 
any  articles  and  expressions  in  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  and  Larger  and  Shorter 
Catechisms  of  the  Assem  bly  of  Divines  at 
Westminster,  have  unanimously  agreed 
in  the  solution  of  those  scruples  and  in 
declaring  the  said  Confession  and  Cate- 
chims  to  be  the  Confession  of  their  Faith, 
excepting  only  some  clauses  in  the  twen- 
tieth and  twenty-third  chapters,  concern- 
ing which  the  Synod  do  unanimously  de- 
clare that  they  do  not  receive  those  arti- 
cles in  any  such  sense  as  to  suppose  the 
civil  magistrate  hath  a  controlling  power 
over  Synods,  Ac."    (Minutes,  pp.  92-8.) 


138  ADOPTING   ACT. 

relating  to  tlie  affiiir  of  the  Confession,  did  unanimously 
agree  in  giving  thanks  to  God  in  solemn  prayer  and 
praises."  The  adoption  of  the  Directory  for  Worship 
Discipline  and  Government,  appended  to  the  Confes- 
sion, as  "  agreeable  in  substance  to  the  Word  of  God," 
and  "  to  be  observed  as  near  as  circumstances  will  al- 
low," followed  of  course,  and  was  assented  to  without 
opposition.''^ 

Although  the  name  of  Mr.  Webb  does  not  appear 
in  any  of  these  transactions,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he 
was  absent  from  the  meetings  in  which  they  took 
place,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  views  which  he 
entertained  or  the  j)Osition  which  he  would  have  as- 
sumed had  he  been  present.  What  Dickinson  and 
Pierson  had  assented  to,  and  Pemberton  called  "  our 
happy  agreement,"  could  hardly  fail  to  have  been 
agreeable  to  their  intimate  associate,  Mr.  Webb.  The 
act  was  evidently  designed  to  be  a  compromise,  or 
rather  to  establish  just  the  position  in  which- both  par- 
ties were  prepared  to  unite.  It  exhibits  much  care  in 
the  selection  of  words,  and  being  written,  as  I  suppose, 
by  Mr.  Andrews,  contains  obvious  coincidences  in  lan- 
guage and  thought  with  his  letter  already  referred  to. 

*  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Ebonczer  Pcm-  upon  what  terms,  you   will  see  by  the  en- 

berton,  of   New  York,  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  closed  prints,   two    or  three  of  which  I 

Coleman  at  Boston  :  send  you  for  yourself  and  those  to  whom 

"  Reverend  Sir— When  I  had  the  pleas-  you  have  a  mind  to  communicate  them, 

ure  of  seeing  you  at  Boston  the  last  sum-  The  conclusion  of  the  Synod  was  ordered 

mer,  I  was  expressing  my  fears  that  the  to  be  published,  that  our  happy  agreement 

subscription    controversy    would   be   the  might  be  as    universally   known  as  our 

cause  of  a  great  disturance  and   division  debates.      1   desire    an    interest  in  your 

in  our  Synod.     But  I  have  now  the  satis-  prayers,  and  am 
faction    of   acquainting  you   that  Provi-  Your  most  obed't  servant, 

dence  has  been  better  to  us  than  our  fears.  Eben'r  Pemberton, 

The  storm  is  blown  over,  and  the  debate        New  York,  Sept.  30,  1729. 
is    peaceably    and    satisfactorily    ended. 


EXPLANATIONS   AND    MODIFICATIONS.  139 

But  the  current  of  opinion  in  the  body  was  evidently 
setting  strongly  towards  a  more  unqualified  subscrip- 
tion than  had  hitherto  been  agreeable  to  the  men  of 
New  England  origin.  Moreover,  it  seems  probable 
that  their  own  minds  may  have  drifted  gradually  in 
the  same  direction.  In  the  year  1730,  an  act  explana- 
tory was  adopted,  which,  although  the  language  is  not 
perfectly  clear,  was  taken  as  intended  to  limit  the  pro- 
posing of  scruples,  and  the  distinction  of  essential  and 
non-essential  to  the  case  of  those^  who  subscribed  in 
the  first  instance.  And  again,  in  the  year  1 'ITS 6,  a  still 
more  exj^licit  one  followed,  declaring  expressly  "  that 
the  Synod  have  adopted  and  still  adhere  to  the  West- 
minster Confession,  Catechisms  and  Directory,  without 
the  least  variation  or  alteration,  and  that  without  any 
regard  to  said  distinctions."  Nor  did  Mr.  Andrews 
who  was  present,  at  the  time,  nor  any  of  his  associates 
who  were  absent,  at  any  subsequent  meeting,  as  far  as 
we  know,  present  any  protest  against  the  decision. 
Either  some  modification  of  their  former  ^dews,  or  a 
conviction  that  it  was  unwise  to  insist  further,  led  the 
party  to  which  the  pastor  of  this  Church  belonged, 
silently  to  acquiesce  ;  though  the  leanings  of  the  two 
parties  were  obviously  not  changed,  and  may  be  plainly 
discovered,  both  during  the  difficulties  of  a  later  pe- 
riod, in  which,  while  the  one  insisted  on  the  adopting 
act,  "  according  to  the  latest  explications,"  the  other 
still  referred  to  it  as  it  was  in  its  original  form ;  and  in 
the  final  happy  adjustment  of  those  difficulties,  which 
did  scarcely  more  than  repeat  the  same  cautious  words 


140  PRESBYTERY   OF    EAST   JERSEY. 

on  which  both  parties  had  united  in  the  first  instance.* 
The  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  as  I  have  already 
observed,  was  for  several  years  the  only  existing  one 
in  this  country.  When  in  the  year  lYl'7,  it  branched 
forth  into  four  others,  and  so  formed  a  Synod,  the 
Churches  in  this  vicinity  remained  in,  or  became  attached 
to  the  parent  body.  But  in  the  year  lYSS,  that  body 
having  increased  in  numbers,  became  again  divided, 
and  a  new  Presbytery,  called  the  Presbytery  of  East 
Jersey,  was  created,  comprising,  with  some  others,  all 
the  Churches,  within  the  limits  of  the  Province  bearing 
the  same  name.  The  records  of  this  ancient  Pres- 
bytery, with  which  this  Church  continued  in  connec- 
tion under  that  name  about  five  years,  are  now,  it  is 
supposed,  irretrievably  lost. 

Some  causes  of  disquietude  seem  to  have  arisen  in 
this  congregation  about  the  year  1726,  on  account  of 
which  the  Synod,  on  an  application  from  Mr.  Webb, 
appointed  commissioners,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Morgan, 
Anderson,  Pierson,  Gelston,  Dickinson  and  Andrews, 
to  meet  at  Newark  on  the  fourth  Wednesday  of  Octo- 
ber in  that  year,  "  to  act  with  the  full  power  of  the 
Synod  in  all  matters  that  may  be  laid  before  them 
in  respect  to  that  congregation,  and  bring  a  report  of 
what  they  do  to  the  next  Synod."  What  the  difficul- 
ties were,  or  how  they  were  adjusted,  we  are  not  in- 
formed, except  that  the  transactions  of  the  committee 
were  brought  in  by  their  report  at  the  next  meeting 

*  Minutes  of  the  Synods  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  pp.  28G-7. 


INTRODUCTION    OF   EPISCOPACY,  141 

of  the  Synod,  according  to  direction,  and  "read  and 
approved."^'* 

About  tliis  time  a  Dutcli  congregation  was  estab- 
lished at  Second  River,  now  Belleville,  which  was  then 
within  the  bounds  of  Newark.  We  find  it  spoken  of 
in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1727,  as  "the  new  Church 
and  congregation  there  erected,"  and  at  that  time,  that 
and  the  Church  of  Aquackanunc  were  both  conjoined 
in  one  body  in  their  ecclesiastical  affairs,  "  and  under 
one  minister  to  dispense  the  Wor(^  and  ordinances  of 
God  unto  them."f 

Hitherto  no  separations  had  taken  place  in  this 
Church  except  on  local  grounds.  The  people,  says 
Dr.  Macwhorter,  had  always  been  of  the  same  denom- 
ination. "There  were  no  sectarians  or  public  divis- 
ions among  them."  But  divisions  and  contentions  of 
a  very  serious  character  were  now  at  hand. 

It  was  towards  the  latter  part  of  Mr.  Webb's  min- 
istry, that  the  earliest  Episcopal  congregation,  viz. : 
that  now  known  as  Trinity  Church,  was  organized. 
Elements  of  Episcopacy  had  been  scattered  in  the 
province,  probably  from  the  beginning,  especially  after 
the  commencement  of  Lord  Cornbury's  administration, 
when  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  a  minister  of  the  Church 
of  England,  made  a  tour  through  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, and  published  an  account  of  his  observations.  Even 
then,  the  neighboring  settlement  of  Elizabethtown, 
the  original  seat  of  government  of  the  province,  and, 
on  that  account,  particularly  subject  to  English  influ- 
ence, seemed  to  the  zealous  missionary  to  present  a 

*  Minutes,  pp.  83,  84.  t  Town  Book,  2d  part,  p.  159. 


142  EPISCOPAL    CHUECH   FOEJIED. 

hopeful  aspect.  "Many  of  tliat  town,"  he  tells  us, 
"  having  been  formerly  a  sort  of  Independents,*  are  be- 
come well  affected  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  de- 
sire to  have  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  En2:land  sent 
to  them."f  In  Newark  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
public  sendees,  according  to  the  rites  of  that  Church, 
were  performed  earlier  than  the  year  17294  In  1*731 
however,  a  missionary,  writing  from  Elizabethtown  to 
his  patrons  in  England,  reports,  that  not  only  there, 
"  but  also  at  Newar\  Whippany  and  in  the  mountains, 
where  he  sometimes  goes  and  preaches  to  a  numerous 
congregation,"  he  finds  his  hearers  increasing ;  and  what 
can  hardly  fail  to  provoke  a  smile  from  those  who 
have  given  attention  to  the  history  of  the  Church  in 
Newark,  during  a  period  of  sixty-five  years  pre\dous, 
gravely  adds,  that  "  he  finds  a  general  disposition  in 
the  people  to  be  instructed  and  settled  in  the  Chris- 
tian FAiTH."§  It  does  not  appear  however,  that  they 
became  settled  into  a  permanent  congregation,  or  had 
any  thing  beyond  an  occasional  service  in  the  Episcopal 
form,  from  some  transient  minister,  until  several  years 
later. 

The  sudden  crystallizing  of  the  elements  thus  pre- 
pared, appears  to  have  been  due  to  a  case  of  disci- 
pline, which  arose  in  this  Church,  and  of  whose  merits, 
we  of  the  present  day  are  incapable  of  forming  an  in- 

*  By  "  a  sort  of  Independents"  he  prob-  any  earlier  than  the  latter  part  of  1730  ? 

ably  means  Congregationalists.  §  Centennial  Discourse  by  Rev.  M.  H. 

\  Keith's  Journal,  p.  78.  Henderson,  p.  11.     This   missionary  was 

X  Centennial  Discourse  by  Rev.  M.  H.  the  Rev.  Mi'.  Vaughan. 

Henderson,  "p.  11.     Query. — Were  there 


COL.    JOSIAH     OGDEN. 


143 


dependent  judgment/'^  Col.  Josiah  Ogden,f  a  distin- 
guished member  of  the  Church,  was  accused  of  vio- 
lating the  sanctity  of  the  Lord's  day,  by  laboring  in 
the  fields  to  save  his  wheat,  Avlien  it  was  exposed  to 
serious  loss  by  long  continued  rains.  The  Church  cen- 
sured him,  and  although  the  Presbytery  reversed  their 
decision,  deeming  the  case  one  of  virtual  necessity,  and 
that  with  ardent  endeavors  to  keep  the  peace  of  the 
town  and  prevent  a  separation,  the  breach  had  become 
too  wide  to  be  healed,  and  the  aggrieved  thereupon 
began  "to  declare  themselves  dissatisfied  with  the 
Presbyterian  form  of  church  government."  Thus 
"originated,"  according  to  Dr.  Macwhorter,  but  per- 
haps we  may  say  more  correctly,  thus  was  brought 
into  a  distinct  and  permanent  form,  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  this  place. 

The  precise  date  of  this  event  is  not  ascertained. 
Dr.  Macwhorter  says  it  was  in  the  years  1732,  '33  and 


*  I  can  find  no  traces  of  an  Episcopal 
congregation  here,  even  of  a  temporary 
character,  prior  to  the  occurrence  here  re- 
ferred to,  except  what  is  stated  above  from 
Mr.  Henderson's  discourse.  Humphre3''s 
Historical  Account,  extending  to  the  year 
1728,  and  publislied  in  1730,  makes  no 
mention  of  Newark  among  the  visitations 
of  the  Episcopal  missionaries.  He  men- 
tions Amboy,  Shrewsbury,  Freehold,  Eliz- 
abethtown,  Rahway,  Piscataway,  Wood- 
bridge,  and  some  other  places  of  less  note 
in  East  Jersej',  but  nowhere  do  I  find  the 
name  of  Newark.  Indeed,  in  his  map  dated 
1730  he  inserts  Newark  as  a  place  to  which 
missionaries  have  not  been  sent.  May  it 
not  then  be  fairly  concluded  that  the  first 
missionary  eflbrts  made  here,  were  made 
at  the  precise  date  of  Mr.  Vaughan's  re- 
port, cited  above  from  Mr.  Henderson's 
discourse,  and  that  Dr.  Macwhorter's  ac- 


count of  the  first  formation  of  a  congrega- 
tion of  that  order  is  correct? 

t  Col.  Josiah  Ogden,  as  before  noticed, 
p.  S3,  note,  was  the  son  of  David  Ogden 
and  Elizabeth  Swaine,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Swaine,  previously  married  to  Josiah 
Ward.  He  was  a  man  of  influence  and  a 
man  of  substance.  His  tombstone,  which 
still  remains,  bears  the  following  inscrip- 
tion :  "  Here  lies  interred  the  body  of  Col . 
Josiah  Ogden,  who  died  May  17th,  1763, 
in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age."  (Con- 
dit's  Monumental  Inscriptions,  p.  137.) 
In  his  will,  emulating  perhaps  in  his  new 
ecclesiastical  attachments,  the  liberality 
of  Deacon  Azariah  Crane  towards  the  old 
Church,  he  makes  the  following  bequest: 
"  I  give  to  the  rector,  church-wardens  and 
vestry  of  Trinity  Church  in  Newark,  my 
silver  cup  or  porringer  with  two  handles, 
to  the  same,  tor  and  to  the  only  use  of  said 
Church." — O'pied  l>j  Mr.  S.  II.  Conyar. 


144  CONTROVERSY   AND    ANIMOSITY. 

'34.  But  as  tlie  matter  was  carried  up  by  Col.  Ogden 
to  tlie  Synod  of  Philadelphia  in  1734,  and  we  find  them 
still  in  correspondence  with  him  on  the  subject  as  late 
as  1735,  it  is  probable  that  he  had  not,  even  then,  fully 
withdrawn  from  the  Presbyterian  Church.* 

A  bitter  controversy  ensued.  The  Rev.  Jonathan 
Dickinson,  one  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the 
Synod  at  their  meeting  in  1735,  to  correspond  with 
Col.  Ogden,  "  was,  in  the  following  summer,  called  in 
by  the  Presbyterians  to  preach  a  sermon  against  the 
points  advocated  by  the  Episcopal  Church  ;"f  and  sev- 
eral controversial  pamphlets  between  him  and  the  Rev. 
John  Beach,  an  Episcopal  minister  of  Connecticut,  still 
remain  to  evince  the  troubled  spirit  of  the  times. 
"  This  separation,"  says  Dr.  Macwhorter,  "  was  the  ori- 
gin of  the  greatest  animosity  and  alienation  between 
friends,  townsmen,  christians,  neighbors  and  relatives, 
that  this  town  ever  beheld.  The  storm  of  relicrious 
separation  and  rage  wrought  tumultuously.  The 
openly  declared  Episcopalians  were  few,  in  comparison 

*  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  and  Cross  did  write  to  Col.  Ogden,  accord- 

pp.  108-113.  img  to  order  of  last  year,  and  he  not  being 

If  the  records  of  the  Church  and  the  yet  satisfied,  and  the  case  being  further 

Presbytery  had  not  been  lost,  we  might  opened  by  Mr.  Webb,  the  Synod  order 

have  formed  a  correct  judgment  perhaps,  Mr.   Dickinson    and    Mr.    Pemberton    to 

of  the  nature  of  the  diflBculty  in  question,  bring  in  a  letter  for  the  Synod's  approba- 

and  have  distributed  censure  or  approval  tion,  to  be  sent  to  him." — pp.  108,  113.    I 

to  the  parties  according  to  desert.    In  the  infer  from  these  notices,  that  Col.  Ogden 

minutes  of  the  Synod,  I  find  the  following  withdrew  from,  and  disowned  the  juris- 

references  to  the  case:  September,  1734,  diction  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  either 

"ordered  that  Mr.  Robert  Cross  and  the  between  September  1784,  and  September 

moderator,  [Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  of  1735,  or  soon  after  the  latter  date. 

New  York,]  as  soon  as  leisure  will  permit,  f  Dr.  Macwhorter  calls  it  "  his  famed 

do  write  a  letter  to  Col.  Ogden,  in  return  sermon,  from  Mark  vii,  15.     '  Howbeit  in 

to  his  to  the  Synod  bearing  date,  Septem-  vain  do  they  worship  me,  teaching  for 

ber  IGth,  1734."  doctrines  the  commandments  of  men.'  " 

September,  1735.    "  Messrs.  Pemberton  MS.  Hist. 


MR.  Webb's  dismission.  145 

of  the  Presbyterians,  yet  there  were  two  leaders,  one 
on  each  side,  who  were  pretty  equally  poised,  in  re- 
spect in  point  of  abilities,  wealth,  connections  and  am- 
bition." "  This  religious  brand,"  he  adds,  "  kindled  a 
flame  which  was  not  extinguished  till  the  conclusion 
of  the  late  wdr."* 

For  a  scene  of  such  violence  and  excitement,  Mr. 
Webb  was  poorly  fitted.  He  was  naturally  of  a  peace- 
ful disposition,  and  the  raging  waves  of  ecclesiastical 
discord  must  have  sorely  disturbed  his  spirit.  The 
precise  ground  which  he  took  between  parties,  we 
have  not  now  the  means  of  determining.  Perhaps  he 
strove  to  mediate,  and  so  was  crushed  between  them. 
Perhaps  deficient  in  decision,  he  found  no  ground  on 
which  he  could  stand  firmly,  and  so  was  trodden  under 
foot  of  both.  "  He  possessed,"  says  Dr.  Macwhorter, 
"no  gifts  for  controversy,  and  was  hated  and  con- 
temned by  the  new  party,  and  sunk  into  neglect  and 
disrespect  with  the  other."  The  result  was,  that  on  the 
application  of  a  majority  of  the  congregation,  he  was 
dismissed  by  the  Presbytery  of  East  Jersey,  in  the 
year  1736,  after  a  ministry  of  about  eighteen  years. 
The  terms  of  dismission,  according  to  Dr.  Macwhorter, 
were  that  the  congregation  should  give  him  £100, 
with  security  for  the  arrears  of  his  salary.  The  town 
voted,  as  appears  from  the  records,  to  employ  him 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year  then  current,  in  con- 
junction with  the  young  preacher,  who  was  the  candi- 
date for  his  vacated  place,  continuing  to  him  his  full 

*  Manuscript  History. 

10 


146  MR.  Webb's  dismission. 

salary  witli  tliis  proviso,  that  "  if  any  person  or  per- 
sons sliould  find  fault,  and  not  consenting  to  pay  the 
same,  then  Mr.  Webb  is  to  deduct  one  sixth  part  of 
their  rate,  and  allow  the  same  out  of  it." 

Mr.  Webb  is  said  to  have  been  a  diligent  attend- 
ant on  the  judicatories  of  the  Church.*  'In  the  Synod 
he  belonged  to  the  party  most  jealous  for  religious 
liberty,  and  once  or  twice,  as  we  have  seen,  joined  with 
Dickinson  and  others  in  protesting  against  measures 
which  were  supposed  to  have  the  opposite  tendency.f 
He  was  regarded  as  a  man  of  prudence,  and  was  not 
unfrequently  employed  in  adjusting  difficulties  in  the 
Churches.  In  his  private  character  he  was  meek, 
peaceable,  inoffensive  and  benevolent.  "  All  acknowl- 
edged," says  Dr.  Macwhorter  "  that  his  abilities  were 
not  of  the  strongest  kind,  but  he  was  a  plain,  faithful 
and  painstaking  minister.  His  dismission  gave  great 
offence  to  the  ministers  and  Churches  of  the  neighbor- 
hood,"  and  the  worst  thing  that  any  could  say  of  him 
in  a  time  of  party  spirit  and  tumult,  was  "  that  he  was 
too  peaceable  and  too  good." 

*  Manuscript    History.      Mr.    Webb's  "  Here  Ijes  interred  an  honest,  pious  soul, 

name  first  appeared  among  those  minis-  Who  all  that  knew  his  virtues  did  verole ; 

ters  connected  with  the  Synod  in  the  year  Who  must  lye  here  until  the  judgment 

1725.    At  the  same  meeting,  this  Church  day, 

was  represented  by   Caleb   Ward,  as  its  And  will  with  me  have  nothing  then  to 

elder,  who  is  probably  the  first  elder  from  say." 
this   Church   who  ever  appeared  in  the 

Synod.    He  was  admitted  as  a  planter  in  Memento  Mori.     The  meaning  of  the 

the  town  of  Newark,  in  169!.    Mr.  Con-  word  "verole,"  or  what  was  intended  by 

gar  mforms  me  that  he  was  the  son  of  it,  passes  my  ability  to  conjecture. 

John  Ward,  turner,  and  died  at  the  age  The  elders  in  attendance  ou  the  Synod 

of  sixty-six,   Feb.  9th,  1785-6.     His  chil-  at  this  period  were  not  numerous.    I  recog- 

dren  were  Caleb,   Timothy,   Theophilus,  nize  but  two  other  names  of  elders  from 

Thomas,    John,    Stephen,    Mary    Smith,  this  church  during  Mr.  Webb's  ministry, 

Sarah  Sealy,  Hannah  Woodruff,  and  Eliz-  viz :  John  and  Samuel  Allen  or  Ailing, 

abeth  Ward.     On  his  tombstone  we  find  +  See  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadcl- 

the  following  tribute  to  his  worth  :  phia,  pp.  6G,  86,  120. 


DEATH   OF  ME.    WEBB. 


147 


Mr.  Webb  remained  in  this  vicinity,  after  his  dismis- 
sion, preaching  in  the  neighborhood,  and  discharging 
his  duties  as  a  member  of  Presbytery  and  Synod  about 
four  years.  His  last  appearance  in  the  Synod  was  in 
May,  1740 ;  and  it  is  said,  that  on  a  visit  to  New  Eng- 
land, he  and  his  son  were  drowned  together,  in  at- 
tempting to  cross  Saybrook  ferry,  on  Connecticut  river, 
probably  during  the  year  1741.* 

I  have  now  brought  the  history  of  this  Church  down 
to  the  year  1736,  very  near  to  the  period  of  those  great 
revivals  under  the  preaching  of  Whitefield,  Edwards, 
Tennent  and  others,  which  must  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  memorable  eras  in  the  history  of  the  Ameri- 
can churches.  Hitherto  the  narrative  has  been  confined 
chiefly  to  the  external  affairs  of  the  congregation.  All 
the  early  records  of  the  Church  having  been  lost,  our 
dependence  for  information  has  been  chiefly  upon  the 
Records  of  the  Town  of  Newark,  the  published  Minutes 


*  Century  Sermon  by  Dr.  Macwhorter, 
p.  S  During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Webb, 
several  aged  and  influential  members  of 
the  Church  were  removed  by  death.  The 
tombstone  of  Deacon  Azariah  Crane, 
which  is  still  standing  in  the  old  burying 
ground,  bears  the  following  inscription: 
"  Here  lies  interred  the  body  of  Deacon 
Azariah  Crane,  who  departed  this  life,  5th 
Novbr.,  1730,  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age.'' 
Near  him  lies  his  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Robert  Treat,  who  died  Nov.  12,  1704,  in 
the  55th  year  of  her  age.  Authony  Olive, 
who  died  March  16th,  1723,  aged  87,  and 
Nathaniel  Wheeler,  who  died  Oct.  4th, 
1726,  aged  87,  were  both  buried  at  Orange- 
Robert  Young  died  Nov.  7th,  1720,  in  his 
G3d  year.  Mrs.  Joanna  Crane,  wife  of  Jas- 
per Crane,  junior,  and  daughter  of  Samuel 
Swaine,  finished  her  course  Sept.  16tb, 
1720,  in  her  69th  year.  "  Deacon  Joseph 
Camfield  departed  this  life,  December  the 


14th,  1733,  in  the  52d  year  of  his  age." 
The  tombstone  of  Joseph  Browne,  grand- 
son of  John  Browne,  senior,  tells  us  that 
he  died  January  30,  1733-4,  aged  58,  and 
thus  describes  his  character: 

"My  life  was  hid  with  Christ  in  God, 
Triumphant  over  death ; 
My  soul  with  angels  makes  abode, 
Till  Christ  restore  my  breath." 

Joseph  Johnson,  "  the  drummer,"  who 
was  only  15  years  old  when  the  settlement 
began,  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  83, 
and  died  in  the  year  1734.  and  his  tomb- 
stone, which  still  remains,  bears  the  fol- 
lowing inscription  :  "  Here  lyeth  interred 
the  bo4y  of  Joseph  Johnson,  son  of  Thom- 
as and  Eleanor  Johnson,  deceased,  he  died 
March  11th,  1733-4,  in  the  83d  year  of  his 
age."  (See  Monumental  Inscriptions  by 
Dr.  John  S.  Condit.)  Benjamin  Baldwin 
died  in  1726,  Daniel  Tichenor  1727-8. — 
S.  II.  Gotigar. 


148  CONCLUDING    EEMAEKS. 

of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  few  other  original 
documents,  chiefly  of  a  secular  character.  In  the  por- 
tions which  follow,  we  shall  be  able  to  enter  far  more 
fully  into  the  spiritual  history  of  the  congregation,  and 
bring  forth  the  proofs  of  God's  power  in  giving  success 
to  the  ministry  of  the  Word. 

Let  us  not  suppose  however,  that  during  all  this 
while  the  congregation  had  no  spiritual  history  worthy 
to  be  told  on  earth,  and  remembered  in  the  scenes  of 
eternity.  The  agonies  of  the  convicted  sinner,  the 
struggles  between  conscience  and  a  sinful  heart — the 
joy  of  the  new  born  soul,  crying  to  its  fellows,  "  O 
taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good" — the  conflicts  and 
the  victories,  the  prayers  and  the  thanksgivings  of 
God's  people — the  mourner's  sorrows  cast  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus — and  the  parent's  agonies  when  a  wicked  child 
went  to  the  grave  in  his  wickedness — all  are  buried 
now  in  the  deep  silence  of  the  forgotten  past.  And 
yet  they  are  the  matters  chiefly  remembered  in  the 
world  of  spirits.  There  each  sermon  which  those 
good  old  servants  of  God  preached  from  those  long 
since  demolished  pulpits — every  entreaty  they  made 
to  the  impenitent  to  accept  mercy  through  the  Saviour 
— every  impressive  providence  which  brought  eternity 
to  mind — every  outpouring  of  the  Divine  spirit  are 
now  held  in  vivid  recollection.  The  good  remember 
with  unceasing  songs  how  they  were  plucked  as  brands 
out  of  the  burning  by  the  power  of  grace ;  and  the  im- 
penitent ;  with  what  bitterness  of  soul  do  they  call  to 
mind  their  lost  opportunities,  the  means  and  influences 
of  grace  which  they  neglected  and  despised !    We  shall 


CONCLUDING   EEMARKS.  149 

hear  the  whole  doubtless,  in  the  Great  Day,  when  God 
shall  bring  every  work  into  judgment. 

Let  me  entreat  you,  my  friends,  while  I  am  dwelling 
for  a  season  on  these  outward  and  temporary  transacr 
tions  of  the  men  of  other  days,  not  to  neglect  your  own 
spiritual  and  eternal  interests.  The  history  which  we 
are  enacting  is,  after  all,  of  far  more  moment  to  us  than 
that  which  we  recite.  Every  hour  is  pregnant  with 
eternal  consequences,  and  ever  bringing  us  nearer  and 
nearer  to  their  realization.  Oh,4et  the  history  which 
our  actions  now  engrave  upon  the  tablets  of  eternity, 
be  such  as  we  may  review  with  joy ! 


DISCOUESE   NUMBER    HI. 

EcCLBSiASTES  1 :  4.    One  generation  passeth  away  and  another  generation  cometh. 

We  have  passed  over  a  period  of  nearly  seventy- 
years,  and  noticed  the  accession,  services  and  removal 
of  six  successive  pastors  of  this  church.  We  come  now 
to  the  sixth  in  order,  \"iz.,  the  Rev.  Aaron  Burr. 

This  eminent  man  was  born  in  Fairfield,  Connecti- 
cut, January  4th,  1716.  His  father's  name  was  Daniel, 
and  his  paternal  grandfather's  and  great-grandfather's, 
Jehu,  all  of  whom  were  residents  of  Fairfield ;  the 
first  Jehu  Burr  having  come  to  that  place  from  Spring- 
field, Mass.  It  is  asserted  in  the  biography  of  Colonel 
Aaron  Burr,  that  his  grandfather  was  a  German,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country,  and  purchased  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  Connecticut.  But  this  assertion  is  unques- 
tional3ly  fabulous.  "  Daniel  Burr,  of  upper  meadow," 
as  the  baptismal  register  designates  him,  was  no  Ger- 
man, but  the  descendant  of  a  race  intensely  puritan  in 
all  its  instincts  and  sympathies.*  Of  six  sons,  Aaron 
was  the  youngest.  From  his  childhood  he  had  a 
strong  inclination  to  learning,  and  early  discovered 

*  For  these  facts  I  am  indebted  to  the    who  gives  them  as  the  result  of  his  own 
Rev.  Lyman  U.  Atwater,  D.  D.,  of  Fairfield,    investigation. 


152  REV.    AARON    BURR. 

tokens  of  that  extraordinary  quickness  of  intellect 
whicli  afterwards  distinguished  him.  He  was  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  the  year  1*735,  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Rector  Williams,  in  the  same  class  with 
that  eminent  divine,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy,  D.  D* 

On  receiving  his  first  degree,  Mr.  Burr  offered  him- 
self as  a  candidate  for  the  privileges  of  a  resident  grad- 
uate on  the  Berkley  foundation.  Dr.  George  Berkley, 
Dean  of  Derry,  and  afterwards  Bishop  of  Cloyne,  had 
founded  in  the  year  1732,  three  scholarships  in  Yale 
College,  on  condition  that  the  income  of  certain  prop- 
erty which  he  gave  for  the  purpose,  should  he  appro- 
priated to  the  maintenance  of  the  three  best  scholars 
in  Greek  and  Latin,  who  should  reside  at  college  at 
least  nine  months  in  a  year,  in  each  of  the  years  be- 
tween the  first  and  second  degree.  The  fact  that  Mr. 
Burr  sought  and  obtained  the  privileges  of  this  bene- 
faction, shows  at  once  his  fondness  for  classical  studies, 
and  his  position  as  one  of  the  three  highest  scholars  in 
that  department  in  his  class,  f 

It  was  during  the  year  following  his  first  degree, 
while  he  was  still  pursuing  his  studies  as  a  scholar  on 
this  foundation,  that  Mr.  Burr  is  supposed  to  have  first 
experienced  the  power  of  regenerating  grace.  "  There 
was,"  says  President  Edwards,  under  date  of  Novem- 
ber, 1736,  "  a  considerable  revival  of  religion  last  sum- 
mer, at  New  Haven,  old  town,  as  I  was  once  and  again 
informed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes,  the  minister  there, 

*  See  Yale  College  Catalogue.  pp.  46-52.    Obituary  notice  of  President 

•t  Baldwin's  History  of  Yale  College,    Burr. 


MR.   burr's   CONVERSIOlSr.  153 

and  by  others.  Mr.  Noyes  writes,  that  many  tliis  sum- 
mer have  been  added  to  the  Church,  and  particularly 
mentions  several  young  persons  that  belong  to  the 
principal  families  of  the  town."*  Who  these  young 
persons  were  we  are  not  told,  but  it  is  very  likely  that 
young  Burr  was  among  the  number  that  the  pastor 
Noyes  had  in  his  mind. 

The  following  account  of  his  religious  exercises  is 
said  to  have  been  extracted  from  his  private  papers. 
"  This  year  God  saw  fit  to  open  my  eyes,  and  show  me 
what  a  miserable  creature  I  was.  Till  then  I  had  spent 
my  life  in  a  dream,  and  as  to  the  great  design  of  my 
being  had  lived  in  vain.  Though  before,  I  had  been 
under  frequent  convictions,  and  was  driven  to  a  form 
of  religion,  yet  I  knew  nothing  as  I  ought  to  know. 
But  then  I  was  brought  to  the  footstool  of  sovereign 
grace,  saw  myself  polluted  by  nature  and  practice,  had 
affecting  views  of  the  Divine  wrath  I  deserved,  was 
made  to  despair  of  help  in  myself,  and  almost  con- 
cluded that  my  day  of  grace  was  past.  It  pleased  God 
at  length  to  reveal  His  Son  to  me  in  the  Gospel,  as  an 
all-sufficient  Saviour,  and  I  hope  inclined  me  to  receive 
Him  on  the  terms  of  the  Gospel."f     Before  this  period 

*  Thoughts  on  the  Revival,  p.  36.  night   comcth  when  no  man  can  work." 

+  See   funeral   sermon  by  Rev.  Caleb  A  copy  of  this  sermon  is  to  be  found  in 

Smith,  entitled  "  A  Sermon  occasioned  by  the  New  York  Historical  Society's  Li brary- 

the  much  lamented  death  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Smith  was  the  minister  of  Orange, 

Mr.  Aaron  Burr,  A.M.,  President  of  the  then  called  Newark  Mountain;  born   on 

College  of  New  Jersey,  who  died  Sep-  Long  Island,  Dec.  29, 1723,  0.  S. ;  entered 

tember  24th,  1759,  in  the  43d  year  of  his  at  Yale   College,   1739  ;    licensed  April, 

age.     Delivered    in    Nassau    Hall,  at    a  1747,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York; 

meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  College,  ordained  Nov.  30,  1748;  married  Martha, 

December  15tb,  1759,  and   published  by  daughter    of    Rev.   Jonathan   Dickinson, 

their  desire.      By  Caleb  Smith,   A.  M."  Sept.  7,  1749,  and  after  her  decease,  which 

John  ix:  4.     "I  must  work  the  work  of  occurred  Aug.  28, 1757,  was  again  married 

Him  that  sent  me  while  it  is  day;  the  to  Rebecca  Foot,  daughter  of  Major  Foot, 


154  MR.  burr's  licensure  and  call 

he  was  a  strong  Armenian  in  his  religious  opinions,  as 
were  great  numbers,  not  only  of  the  young  students, 
but  of  the  leading  ministers  and  Churches  of  that  day. 
But  in  his  case,  as  in  many  others,  a  change  of  heart 
brought  with  it  a  change  of  creed,  and  to  use  his  own 
words,  he  "  he  seeminglj  felt  the  truth  of  the  Calvin- 
ian  doctrine." 

Mr.  Burr  was  licensed  as  a  candidate  for  the  minis- 
try in  September,  1736  ;  preached  his  first  sermon 
at  Greenfield,  Mass.,  and  then  came  to  New  Jersey, 
and  labored  a  short  time  at  Hanover.*  The  first 
notice  of  him  at  Newark,  bears  date  November  1736, 
when  a  committee  was  appointed  to  treat  mth  him 
on  the  subject  of  his  becoming  a  candidate.  "  Dur- 
ing the  month  following,  viz.,  on  the  21st  of  De- 
cember, 1736,  it  was  put  to  vote,"  says  the  Town 
Record,  "  whether  the  town  desired  Mr.  Aaron  Burr 
should  have  a  call  for  further  improvement  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  among  us,  as  a  candidate  for  further 
trial,  which  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  nemine  Cfjn- 
tradicenteP\     He  was  accordingly  employed  to  preach 

of  Branford,  Conn.,  Oct.  17,  1759.  Mr,  teach  the  languages,  being  sensible  of  the 
Smith  died  of  dysentery,  Oct.  22,  1762.  worth  of  Mr.  Caleb  Smith,  wrote  to  him, 
.^t.  38  years  and  10  months.  He  is  said  and  endeavored  to  obtain  him  for  that 
to  have  been  very  useful  in  Presbytery,  purpose.  Mr.  Smith's  affairs  would  not 
and  for  many  years  was  stated  clerk  ;  and  allow  him  to  come  till  Mr.  Burr  was  oth- 
many  of  its  most  important  writings  were  erwise  supplied.  However,  he  at  length 
drafted  by  him.  His  sermon  on  the  death  of  came  to  Elizabethtown,  where  he  instruct- 
Burr  was  the  only  one  which  he  published,  ed  a  number  of  3*oung  gentlemen  in  the 
and  was  composed  at  a  time  when  he  was  learned  languages,  and  studied  divinity 
much  affected  with  nervous  disorder,  and  under  the  direction  of  that  eminently 
written  with  great  difBculty.  Generally  great  divine,  Mr.  Jonathan  Dickinson." — 
he  wrote  with  great  ease.  About  the  time  See  "  a  brief  account"  of  his  life,  published 
he  took  his  second  degree,  (/.  e.  in  1746,)  at  Woodbridge,  in  1763,  now  in  the  Libra- 
Mr.  Burr  of  Newark,  afterwards  President  ry  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 
of  New  Jersey  College,  having  a  large  *  Memoirs  of  Col.  A.  Burr,  p.  17. 
Latin  school,  and  wanting  a  master  to  +  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  161. 


SETTLEMENT    OF    MK.   BURR. 


155 


for  the  term  of  one  year,  commencing  the  lOth  of  Jan- 
uary, 1736-7,  and  immediately  after  the  expiration  of 
that  term,  viz.,  on  the  25th  of  January,  1737-8,*  was 
ordained  after  the  usual  trials  by  the  Presbytery  of 
East  Jersey,  with  which  the  Church  was  then  con- 
nected. Mr.  Dickinson  presided,  and  gave  the  charge, 
and  Mr.  Pierson  preached.  The  settlement  of  Mr. 
Burr  was  a  most  auspicious  event.  "  It  was  then  a 
day  of  temptation  and  darkness  in  that  Church,"  says 
a  reliable  authority,  "but  his  coming  soon  dispersed 
the  cloud  which  hung  over  them,  and  they  in  a  short 
time  gave  him  a  unanimous  call  to  the  pastoral  offlce."f 
The  early  part  of  Mr.  Burr's  ministry  was  remarka- 


*  In  an  extract  from  his  Journal  in  the 
Memoir  of  Col.  Burr,  the  date  given  is 
1738-9,  but  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  con- 
cur with  the  Newark  Town  Records,  in 
assigning  it  to  Jan.  1,  1737-8. 

t  Rev.  Caleb  Smith's  funeral  sermon. 
That  there  was  no  precipitation  in  Mr 
Burr's  settlement,  as  Dr.  Macwhorter  sup- 
poses, (see  Century  Sermon,  p.  19,)  is  evi- 
dent from  the  length  of  his  probation  as 
above  slated.  His  own  account  of  the 
whole  matter  is  contained  in  the  following 
extract  from  his  private  journal  (See 
Memoir  Col.  Burr,  p.  19,  vol.  i.)  "In 
September,  1736,  with  many  fears  and 
doubts  about  my  qualifications,  (being  un- 
der clouds  with  respect  to  my  spiritual 
state,)  I  offered  mjself  to  trial,  and  was 
approved  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry. 
My  first  sermon  was  preached  at  Green- 
field, and  immediately  after  I  came  to  the 
Jerseys.  I  can  hardly  give  any  account 
why  I  came  here.  After  I  had  preached 
some  time  at  Hanover,  I  had  a  call  by  the 
people  of  Newark,  but  there  was  scarcely 
any  probability  that  I  should  suit  their 
circumstances,  being  young  in  standing 
and  trials.  I  accepted  their  invitation 
with  a  reserve,  that  I  did  not  come  with 
any  views  of  settling.     My  labors  were 


universally  acceptable  among  them,  and 
they  manifested  such  great  regard  and 
love  for  me,  that  I  consented  to  accept  of 
the  charge  of  their  souls. 

"A.  D.  1738-39.  January  the  25th  I 
was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry 
by  fasting,  prayer  and  ipaposition  of  hands. 
God  grant  that  I  may  ever  keep  fresh  in 
my  mind  the  solemn  charge  that  was  then 
given  me,  and  never  indulge  trifling 
thoughts  of  what  then  appeared  to  me  of 
such  awful  importance.  The  ministers 
who  joined  in  this  solemn  transaction 
were  Mr.  Dickinson,  who  gave  the  charge, 
and  Mr.  Pierson  who  preached.  Mr. 
Dickinson,  who  presided  at  this  work,  has 
been  of  great  service  to  me  by  his  advice 
and  instruction,  both  before  and  since  my 
ordination." 

The  Records  of  the  Synod  contain  the 
following  notice,  under  date  of  May  24th, 
1738:  "It  is  reported  that  Mr.  Charles 
Tennent,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle, 
Mr.  Aaron  Burr  and  Mr.  Walter  Wilmot, 
in  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  were  after 
the  usual  trial,  ordained  since  the  last 
Synod,  and  that  they  did  all  of  them  adopt 
the  Westminster  Confession,  Ac,  accord- 
ing to  order  of  this  Synod." — Minutes, 
p.  135. 


156  THE    GEE  AT   AWAKENING. 

"ble  for  that  wonderful  religious  impulse  wMch,  extend- 
ing over  almost  tlie  whole  of  our  country,  and  consid- 
erable portions  of  Great  Britain,  has  justly  been  de- 
nominated "the  great  awakening."  The  mighty  work 
began  at  Northampton  and  other  places,  as  early  as 
the  year  1734,  when  Burr  was  yet  a  youth  in  college, 
and  he  had  felt  as  we  have  seen,  the  power  of  God 
in  it  in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  his  own  sonl. 
Having  entered  on  his  work  here,  under  a  deep  sense 
of  his  own  weakness,  and  the  most  solemn  impressions 
of  the  responsibility  of  his  charge,*  God  was  pleased 
to  honor  him  as  an  eminent  instrument  in  carrying 
forward  his  work  of  grace,  not  only  among  the  people 
of  Newark,  but  in  other  parts  of  the  land.  In  a  letter 
from  a  gentleman  in  New  York  to  a  friend  in  Glas- 
gow,f  in  the  year  1*741,  he  is  mentioned  with  Gilbert 
and  William  Tennent,  Ebenezer  Pemberton  and  three 
others,  as  one  of  seven  ministers  whom  "  the  good  Lord 
hath  stirred  up  and  spirited,"  to  water  the  seed  sown 
by  Whitefield  in  this  region. 

Nor  was  it  only  as  an  Apollos  watering  and  tending 
the  plants  which  other  men  had  sown,  that  God  was 
pleased  to  employ  him.  About  a  year  and  a  half  after 
his  ordination,  in  the  month  of  August,  1^39,  before 
Whitefield  made  his  first  visit  to  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, a  remarkable  revival  of  religion  took  place  in  this 
congregation.  It  began  among  the  youth,  and  increas- 
ing steadily  from  month  to  month,  seemed  by  mid- 

*  Memoir  Col.  Burr,  p.  18.  agent  for  the  Church  in  Scotland.    (See 

t  Letter  from  Dr.  John  Nichols,  physi-    Gillies's  Hist.  Col.,  vol  viii,  p.  133. 
cian  in  New  York,  to  Nicholas  Spence, 


REVIVAL    OF    RELIGION.  157 

winter  to  have  changed  the  entire  face  of  society.  The 
vices  and  follies  which  before  prevailed,  were  univer- 
sally abandoned ;  religious  conversation  took  the  place 
of  social  merriment,  devout  attention  appeared  in  all 
their  public  assemblies,  and  a  deep  anxiety  about  their 
eternal  welfare  became  manifest  in  the  countenances 
of  many.  Early  in  the  spring,  the  adult  portion  of  the 
congregation,  who  had  hitherto,  with  a  few  exceptions, 
remained  apparently  unaffected,  began  to  feel  the 
power  of  the  same  sacred  influences,  and  "  the  whole 
town  were  brought  under  an  uncommon  concern  about 
their  eternal  interests."* 

All  this  time  the  heavenly  gift  seemed  confined 
wholly  to  Newark.  In  the  neighboring  congregation 
of  Elizabethtown  there  was  great  religious  insensibility. 
Whitefield  had  visited  and  preached  among  them  dur- 
ing the  autumn,  and  not  a  single  known  conversion 
followed  his  ministrations.  The  excellent  pastor  of 
the  Church  redoubled  his  efforts,  but  apparently  to 
no  purpose.  "  Though  we  had,"  he  writes,  "  continual 
accounts  from  Newark  of  the  growing  distress  among 
their  peoj^le,  their  young  people  esjDecially,  our  con- 
gregation remained  secure  and  careless,  and  could  not 

*  At  this  juncture,  Mr.  Dickinson,  of  in  Neto  Jersey.    Gal.  iv;  6.    And  because 

Elizabethtown,  preached  a  sermon  here,  ye  are  sons,  God  Imtli  sent  His  Son  into 

entitled:  your  hears,  crying  Abba  Father.    Boston, 

"The  Witness  of  the  Spirit.    A  Sermon  N.  E.     Printed  and  sold  by  S.  Kneeland 

preached  at  Ne^varh,  in  New  Jersey,  May  &  T.  Green,  in  Queen  street  over  against 

7th,  1740,  wherein  is  distinctly  shown  in  the  prison.     1740." 

what  way  and  manner  the  Spirit  hiviself  This  sermon,  a  copy  of  which  is  now  in 

Sca?'ciA  w(7«c-6-s  to  the  adoption  of  the  chil-  possession    of   the   writer  of   these   dis- 

dren  of  God,  on  occasion  of  the  wonderful  courses,  is  eminenlly  faithful  and  discrim- 

progress   of   converting   grace    in    those  inating,  and  was  doubtless  in  the  truest 

parts.    By  Jonathan    Dickinson,   M.  A.,  sense,  a  Tract  for  the  Times.    The  text 

minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Elizabethtown,  is  from  Romans,  iii :  16. 


158  EEVIVAL    OF   RELIGION. 

be  awakened  out  of  their  sleep."  In  sucli  a  man  as 
Dickinson,  whose  joy  was  doubtless  unfeigned  in  view 
of  the  success  with  which  God  was  crowning  the  efforts 
of  his  young  brother,  for  whom  he  seems  to  have  en- 
tertained the  warmest  affection,  such  apparent  deser- 
tion of  his  own  flock  could  not  but  have  been  the 
source  of  keen  affliction.  "  You  will  easily  conceive," 
he  says,  "  that  this  must  be  an  afflicting  and  discour- 
aging consideration  to  me,  that  when  from  other  places 
we  had  the  joyful  news  of  so  many  flying  to  Christ,  I 
had  yet  cause  to  complain  that  I  labored  in  vain,  and 
spent  my  strength  for  nought."  But  just  as  the  reli- 
gious feeling  in  Newark  began  to  show  signs  of  abate- 
ment, the  Divine  Spirit  seemed  to  manifest  His  power 
among  the  people  of  Elizabethtown.  A  numerous  con- 
gregation of  the  youth  of  the  town  being  assembled, 
"  I  preached  to  them,"  says  the  pastor,  "  a  j^lain,  j)rac- 
tical  sermon  without  any  special  liveliness  or  vigor, 
for  I  was  then  in  a  remarkably  dead  and  dull  frame ;" 
but  so  deep  and  sudden  was  the  impression  made,  that 
"the  inward  distress  and  concern  of  the  audience  dis- 
covered itself  by  their  tears,  and  by  an  audible  sob- 
bing and  sighing  in  all  parts  of  the  assembly."  About 
sixty  persons  gave  evidence  by  their  subsequent  lives, 
of  a  radical  change  of  character  during  this  revival. 

Meanwhile  the  congregation  at  Newark  had  not 
been  Avholly  deserted.  Catching  the  sacred  flame, 
from  the  fire  which  had  been  kindled  on  a  neighboring 
altar,  this  Church  experienced  during  the  following 
winter,  the  winter  of  1Y40-1,  a  more  general  and  ef- 
fectual manifestation  of  divine  influence  than  in  the 


WniTEFIELD's    FIRST   VISIT.  159 

previous  instance.  Professors  of  religion  were  induced 
to  examine  closely  the  foundation  of  their  hopes,  and 
many  of  them  l)ecame  convinced  that  they  had  hith- 
erto only  a  name  that  they  lived.  Many  converts 
were  added  to  the  number  of  Christ's  followers,  espe- 
cially among  the  elder  class,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
very  few  in  the  whole  congregation  who  were  not 
more  or  less  sensibly  affected.  "  There  is  good  reason 
to  conclude,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  that  there  were  a 
greater  number  now  brought  home  to  Christ  than  in 
the  former  gracious  visitation."*  This  is  the  first 
among  a  long  series  of  similar  Divine  visitations  which 
the  wastes  of  time  have  preserved  to  us. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1740,  Whitefield  made 
his  first  \'isit  to  Newark.  At  his  arrival  in  Newport, 
Khode  Island,  Mr.  Burr  was  in  that  region,  on  a  visit 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  and  probably  accompanied 
him  to  Boston.  It  is  certain  that  he  was  in  Boston 
during  the  visit  of  the  famous  preacher,  and  heard  him 
preach,  both  in  the  churches  and  on  the  common,  to 
thronging   thousands.f      About   a   month   after   Mr. 

*  Gillies's  Historical  Collections,  vol.  ii,  the  23d  went  to  hear  him  preach  in  Mr. 

p.  142  etc.  Webb's  church,  but  the  house  was  crowd- 

t  Mem.  of  Col.  Burr,  p.  ]S.  "  In  Novem-  ed  before  Mr.  Whitefield  came.  The  peo- 
ber,  1839,  I  was  on  a  visit  to  my  friends  pie,  especially  the  women,  were  put  into 
in  New  England,  and  again  in  March  1740.  a  fright,  under  a  mistaken  notion,  that  the 
In  the  following  August  I  was  in  a  de-  galleries  were  falling,  which  caused  them 
dining  state  of  health,  and  by  the  advice  to  hurry  out  in  such  a  violent  manner  that 
of  my  physicians  visited  Rhode  Island,  many  were  seriously  injured,  and  live 
From  thence  I  proceeded  to  IJoston  on  tlie  killed.  The  same  day  Whitefield  preached 
19th  of  September.  I  heard  Mr.  White-  at  Mr.  Gee's  church.  In  the  evening  he 
lield  preach  in  Dr.  Colmau's  church.  I  preached  at  Ur.  Sewall'.s  church.  On  Sat- 
am  more  and  more  and  more  pleased  with  urday  I  went  to  hear  him  in  the  Com- 
the  man.  On  the  21st  heard  him  preach  mons ;  there  were  about  eight  thousand 
in  the  Conmions  to  about  ten  thousand  hearers.  Ue  expounded  the  parable  of 
people.  On  Monday  visited  him,  and  had  the  Prodigal  Son  in  a  very  moving  man- 
some  conversation  to  my  satisfaction.    On  ner.    Many  melted  into  tears.    On  the  4th 


160  BURR   IN   BOSTON. 

Burr's  return,  Whitefield  preached  to  this  congrega- 
tion. His  own  record  of  the  fact  is  as  follows:* 
"  Kode  after  sermon"  (he  had  been  preaching  from  a 
wagon  that  morning  on  Staten  Island)  "  to  Newark. 
Preached  to  a  considerable  congregation,  but  with  lit- 
tle influence.  However  at  night  the  Lord  manifested 
forth  His  glory.  In  coming  down  to  family-prayer 
where  I  lodged,  and  perceiving  many  young  men 
around  me,  my  very  soul  was,  as  it  were,  melted  down 
with  concern  for  them.  After  singing,  I  gave  a  word 
of  exhortation.  But  how  did  the  "Word  faU  like  a 
hammer  and  like  fire !  What  a  weeping  was  there ! 
One  poor  creature  in  particular  was  ready  to  sink  into 
the  earth."  One  of  the  Tennents  was  at  this  time  in 
the  company,  and  the  remainder  of  the  evening  was 
spent,  with  Whitefield  lying  on  the  bed  in  great  ex- 
haustion, in  hearing  Mr.  Tennent  give  an  account  of  one 
of  his  recent  preaching  excursions.! 

An  incident,  which  probably  occurred  during  this 
visit  to  Boston,  and  is  related  in  a  letter  from  a  person 
in  that  place  to  a  minister  in  Glasgow,  deserves  notice 
here  as  illustrating  Mr.  Burr's  character  as  a  preacher, 
and  his  influence  in  promoting  the  progress  of  the 
great  revival.  A  young  lady  of  great  wealth  and  ac- 
complishments, a  favorite  in  all  gay  company,  but  very 

of  October,  being  on  my  return  to  New  ton,  morning  after  morning,  three  or  four 

Jersey,  I  arrived  at  Fairfield,  where  I  re-  thousand    people   hanging   in    breathless 

mained  two  days  with  my  friends."    Jour-  silence  on  the  lips  of  the  preacher,  and 

nal  of  A.  Burr.  weeping  silent  tears." 

Philip  says,  (see  Life  and  Times  of  Geo.        *  Whitefield's  Journal,  p.  423.    London, 

Whitefield,  p.  419,)   that  again,  in  1754,  1756. 

"PresidentBurraccompanied  him  [White-        -j-  Whitefield's  Journal.    London  edition, 

field]  to  New  England,  and  saw  at  Bos-  p.  423. 


BUER    AS    PASTOR.  161 

tlioiiglitless  on  the  subject  of  religion,  was  passing  by- 
Mr.  Prince's  meeting-house,  on  her  way  to  some  cere- 
monious visit,  when  her  attention  was  arrested  by  see- 
ing great  multitudes  flocking  into  the  house ;  and  learn- 
ing on  inquiry,  that  there  was  a  lecture  there  that  morn- 
ing, she  determined  to  go  in  and  see  what  they  were 
doing.  Mr.  Burr  "  mounted  the  desk."  Seeing  noth- 
ing remarkable  in  his  appearance,  she  regarded  him 
with  contempt,  "  thinking  such  a  person  could  not  say 
any  thing  worth  such  crowding  after,"  and  would  have 
left  the  assembly  at  once,  had  not  decency  restrained 
her.  "  But  she  soon  found,"  says  the  narrative,  "  what 
she  never  felt  before,  for  the  Spirit  of  God  accompa- 
nied the  word  in  a  most  powerful  manner,"  and  the 
result  was  a  complete  change  in  her  life  and  character. 
She  died  about  four  or  five  years  afterwards,  in  the 
triumph  of  faith  and  hope.* 

As  a  pastor,  Mr.  Burr  was  eminently  faithful  and 
assiduous.  Of  winning  manners  and  distinguished 
skill  in  finding  out  and  opening  the  avenues  of  the 
heart,  he  employed  his  address,  learning  and  activity  for 
the  promotion  of  the  moral  improvement  and  spiritual 
welfare  of  the  souls  committed  to  him.  "  To  examine 
into  the  condition  of  his  flock,"  says  an  eminent  civilian 
who  well  knew  him,f  "  to  watch  against  essential  er- 

*  Gillie's  Historical  Collections,  p.  328,  Mr.  Aaron  Burr,  of  New  Jersev.    By  Wil- 

^-'^'  liam  Liviiifjston,  Esq. 

+  Governor  Livingston.    See  his  Enlo-ry  "  '  — ^  of  comfort  no  man  speak- 
on  the  death  of  Mr.  Burr,  a  copy  of  which  Let's  talk  of  graves,  and  worms,  and  epi- 
is  to  be  found  in  the  Library  of  the  Mass.  taphs ; 

Hist.  Soc,  in  Boston,  with  the  following  Make  dust  our  paper,  and  with  rainy  eyes 

^^*j^;  „  "Write  sorrow  in  the  bosom  of  the  earth.' 

"A  Funeral  Eulogium  on  the  RcTerend  <«  Shakspeaee. 

11 


162  BUER   AS   PASTOR. 

rors,  to  instruct  tlie  ignorant,  to  revive  tlie  disconso- 
late, to  animate  tlie  penitent,  to  reclaim  tlie  relaj^sing, 
to  confirm  tlie  irresolute,  to  liumble  tlie  arrogant  and 
immoral,  were  his  constant  and  most  deliglitful  em- 
ployments." "  He  was  none  of  those  '  downy  doctors' 
who  soothe  their  hearers  into  delusive  hopes  of  divine 
acceptance,  or  substitute  external  morality  in  the  room 
of  vital  godliness.  On  the  contrary,  he  scorned  to  pro- 
claim the  peace  of  God  till  the  rebel  laid  down  his 
arms,  and  returned  to  his  allegiance.  He  was  an  am- 
bassador that  adhered  inviolably  to  his  instructions 
and  never  acceded  to  a  treaty  that  would  not  be  rati- 
fied in  the  Court  of  Heaven.  He  searched  the  con- 
science with  the  terror  of  the  law,  before  he  assuaged 
its  anguish  with  the  balm  of  Gilead,  or  presented  the 
sweet  emollients  of  a  bleeding  Deity.  He  acted,  in 
short,  like  one,  not  intrusted  with  the  lives  and  for- 
tunes, but  the  evei-lasting  interests  of  his  fellow-mor- 
tals, and  therefore  made  it  his  business  to  advance  the 
divine  life,  and  restore  the  beautiful  image  of  God,  dis- 
figured by  the  apostacy  of  man." 

With  such  personal  and  ministerial  qualifications, 
joined  with  social  and  literary  accomplishments  of  the 
highest  order,  and  an  example  which  justified  the  re- 
mark of  the  distinguished  eulogist  just  referred  to, 

"Stat  sua  cuique,  Dies,  breve  et  irrcpara-  gjrical,  and  somewhat  inflated;  but  tbat 

bile  Tempus  the  estimate  of  character  is  not  exagn;er- 

Omnibus  est  vitre,  sed  famam  extendcrc  ated,  may  be  seen  by  comparing  it  with 

factis  the  plainer  compositions  of  Caleb  Smithy 

Hoc  virtutis  opus.  and  the  writers  of  the  obituary  notices.    1 

'■  New  York,  printed.  Boston,  reprinted  know  of  no  character  conceiuiug  which  all 

by  Green  &  Russel,  in  Queen  street,  for  J.  the  testimony  more  fully  agrees  in  its  ap- 

Winter,  in  Union  street,     mdcclviii."  plause. 

The  style  of  this  performance  is  pane- 


CALL   TO   NEW   HAVEN.  163 

that  "  wliat  lie  jireaclied  in  tlie  pulpit  lie  lived  out  of 
it,"  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  devotion  of  tlie  people  to 
tlieir  eloquent  pastor  was  strong  and  fervent. 

At  an  early  period  in  his  ministry,  Mr.  Burr  was  so- 
licited to  resign  the  charge  of  this  Church,  and  remove 
to  another  field  of  service.  Several  difficulties  existing 
in  the  First  Church  in  New  Haven,  Mr.  Dickinson,  it 
is  said,  had  advised  the  23eople  to  end  their  troubles 
by  settling  a  colleague.  Accordingly,  in  the  month 
of  June,  1T42,  they  presented  a'  call  to  Mr.  Burr  to 
become  their  assistant  joastor  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes ; 
and  in  pursuance  of  this  call,  a  committee  was  appoint- 
ed, with  President  Clap  at  their  head,  to  go  to  Newark 
and  lay  the  call  before  Mr.  Burr,  and  j^rosecute  it  be- 
fore the  Presbytery  to  which  he  belonged,  with  direc- 
tions likewise,  "  to  treat  with  the  good  people  of  New- 
ark and  obtain  their  consent  to  Mr.  Burr's  removal  to 
New  Haven."  All  we  know  of  the  result  of  this  appli- 
cation is  that  it  was  unsuccessful.  Probably  the  good 
people  of  Newark  could  not  be  induced,  even  by  the 
persuasive  powers  of  President  Clap,  to  give  their  con- 
sent to  a  bereavement  of  so  serious  a  character.  In- 
deed, such  was  the  strong  and  mutual  attachment  be- 
tween Mr.  Burr  and  his  people,  as  to  forbid  the  thought 
of  such  a  change,  except  under  the  pressure  of  the  most 
urgent  reasons.  Through  all  his  ministry  there  sub- 
sisted between  him  and  them  the  most  entire  harmony. 
They  regretted,  it  is  said,  even  his  occasional  absence 
from  them,  "  though  the  pulpit  was  not  meanly  sup- 
lulled  by  another ;"  for  so  high  was  their  appreciation 


164  DAVID    BRAINERD. 

of  Ms  eminent  services,  "  that  tliey  scarce  could  liave  a 
tolerable  relisli  for  any  change  of  spiritual  fare."* 

It  was  in  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Burr's  ministry,  that 
David  Brainerd,  a  name  ilhistrious  in  the  annals  of 
piety,  received  ordination  in  the  house  of  worship  be- 
longing to  this  Church,  as  missionary  to  the  Aborig- 
ines of  our  country.  Mr.  Burr,  with  Dickinson  and 
others,  distressed  in  view  of  the  neglected  condition  of 
the  heathen  in  the  very  midst  of  them,  were  in  corres- 
pondence with  the  Society  in  Scotland  for  Propagating 
Christian  Knowledge,  and  had  secured  from  them  the 
promise  to  supj)ort  two  missionaries  to  labor  in  that 
field.  Brainerd  was  the  second  person  selected  and 
appointed  by  the  Society's  correspondents  for  that 
work.  We  find  him  here  on  the  19th  of  March,  1743 
in  great  spiritual  distress ;  but  he  records  in  his  jour- 
nal, that  "he  had  some  sweetness  in  conversation  with 
Mr.  Burr,  and  in  praying  together,"  and  exclaims,  in 
view  of  the  pri\dlege,  "  O  blessed  be  God  for  any  en- 
livening and  quickening  seasons."f  Brainerd  had  been 
expelled  from  college,  where  his  standing  as  a  scholar 
would  otherwise  have  entitled  him  to  the  first  honors 
of  his  class,  for  what  must  now  be  acknowledged  to 
have  been  only  a  trifling  indiscretion.  As  commence- 
ment approached,  the  anticipation  of  the  scene  was  very 
oppressive  to  him.  His  friends  made  every  exertion 
to  have  him  restored,  and  Mr.  Burr,  commissioned  by 
his  associates  in  the  Indian  mission,  made  a  journey  to 
New  Haven  for  the  express  pur2:)ose.      But  though 

*  Funeral  sermon  by  Eev.  Caleb  Smith.        t  Edwards'  Works,  vol.  x,  p.  C9.    New 

York  editiou. 


BRAINERD's  ORDINATION".  165 

Braiuerd  had  prepared  and  offered  a  most  humble 
confession,  lamenting  his  fault,  and  seeking  forgiveness, 
the  authorities  of  the  College  were  inflexible,  and  his 
degree  was  denied  him,  excej^t  on  the  condition  of  his 
remaining  in  college  another  year,  which  he  could  not 
do  without  breaking  up  all  his  plans  of  missionary  ser- 
vice. 

Mr.  Brainerd  came  to  Newark  on  the  29th  of  May, 
1744,  and  spent  about  two  weeks  here,  and  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  and  in  New  York,  "^e  Presbytery  met  at 
Newark,  on  the  11th  of  June,  and  in  the  afternoon  of 
that  day,  the  young  candidate  preached  his  probation 
sermon,  from  Acts  xxvi:  lY,  18.  "Delivering  thee 
from  the  people  and  the  Gentiles,"  <fec.  The  next  day 
at  ten  o'clock,  having  passed  through  his  trials  with 
universal  approbation,  he  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  and  Mr.  Pemberton,  of  New  York, 
preached  the  ordination  sermon,  from  Lukexiv:  23. 
"  And  the  Lord  said,  Go  out  into  the  highways  and 
hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in,"  <fec. 

These  facts  deserve  notice,  both  because  the  pre- 
cious name  of  this  sainted  missionary  should  be  cher- 
ished as  a  sweet  odor  in  every  Church  whose  history  is 
connected  with  his  memory,  and  because  the  connec- 
tion of  Brainerd  with  Burr  and  his  associates  had  an 
assignable  influence  on  the  subsequent  course  of  affairs 
in  this  congregation." 

About   the   time   of  Mr.    Burr's   ordination,    some 

*  I  refer  particularly  to  the  establish-    the  prime  of  life,  and  removal  to  Prince- 
ment  of  the  College  in  Newark;  the  mar-    ton;  the  ministry  of  John  Brainerd,  &c. 
riage  of  Mr.  Burr,  and  his  dismission  in  i 


166  PEESBYTEEY   OF   NEW    YOEK   EOEMED. 

changes  took  place  iu  the  external  relations  of  the 
Church.  The  large  and  flourishing  Presbytery  of  East 
Jersey  was  increased  still  further  by  the  addition  of 
the  small  Presbytery  of  Long  Island,  which  had  be- 
come so  reduced,  as  to  be  unable  to  maintain  advan- 
tageously its  separate  existence,  and  received  the  new 
designation  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  With 
this  body  so  denominated,  the  Church  continued  in 
connection  during  seventy-one  years.* 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Synod,  namely,  in  1738, 
several  Churches  previously  belonging  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  East  Jersey  were  detached  from  it,  and  with 
some  others  taken  from  that  of  Philadelphia,  erected 
iato  a  new  body,  under  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick.  It  was  composed  chiefly,  if  not 
wholly,  of  men  warmly  engaged  in  promoting  the 
great  revival  already  spoken  of;  and  being  formed  into 
a  separate  body,  they  began  to  j^rosecute  with  great 
vigor  the  plans  and  methods  by  which  that  remarka- 
ble movement  was  characterized.f  These  proceedings 
had  an  important  influence  u^^on  the  course  of  affairs 
which  we  must  now  proceed  to  consider. 

The  period  of  Mr.  Burr's  ministy  was  distinguished 
by  an  event  sadly  memorable  in  the  history  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  which  his  relations  and 

*  See  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadel-  time  into  our  Lord's  vineyard."    (Journal, 

phia,  p.  134.  p.  281.)    It  was  eren  rumored,  at  one 

+  Whitefield  says,  under  date  of  Nov.  time,  that  Whitefield  had  a  plan  to  bring 
25,  1739  :  "  It  happens  very  providentially  out  young  preachers  from  England,  and 
that  Mr.  Tennent  and  his  brethren  are  ap-  have  them  ordained  by  this  Presbytery,  in 
pointed  to  be  a  Presbytery  by  the  Synod,  order  to  supplant  those  pastors  of  churches 
so  that  they  intend  breeding  up  gracious  whose  piety  and  ministerial  zeal  he  re- 
youth  and  sending  them  out  from  time  to  garded  as  deficient. 


THE   GEEAT  SCHISM.  167 

tliose  of  tlie  Presbytery  to  whicli  tliis  Church  belonged, 
were  such  as  to  reflect  the  highest  honor  on  their  wis- 
dom and  piety.  I  refer  to  what  has  been  denominated 
THE  GEEAT  SCHIS5I.  The  re\T.val  of  religion  before  re- 
ferred to,  had  both  given  rise  to  a  new  system  of 
measures  in  the  Churches  which  had  felt  its  power, 
and  created  an  obvious  necessity  for  a  more  copious 
supply  of  ministers  than  could  be  readily  obtained  in 
the  existing  state  of  learning  and  piety  in  the  country. 
The  consequence  was  that  some  serious  irregularities 
disturbed  the  order  of  the  Church,  and  some  men  were 
introduced  into  the  sacred  office,  whose  proficiency  in 
learning  did  not  correspond  with  their  zeal  and  fer- 
vency. To  those  who  were  not  in  full  symj^athy  with 
the  movement,  these  evils  gave  serious  offence,  and 
furnished  both  the  occasion  and  the  pretext  for  oppos- 
ing in  some  instances,  the  work  itself.  In  the  year 
lYSY,  an  act  was  passed  in  the  Synod  restricting  itine- 
rant preaching,  and  prohibiting  the  members  of  one 
Presbytery  to  preach  within  the  bounds  of  another 
without  an  explicit  permission.  In  the  year  following, 
the  Synod  enacted  that  no  Presbytery  should  ordain 
or  license  any  candidate  for  the  ministy,  who  could 
not  furnish  a  diploma  from  some  European  or  New 
England  College,  without  first  subjecting  him  to  an 
examination  with  respect  to  his  scholarship,  before  a 
commission  of  the  Synod.  As  these  regulations,  how- 
ever proper  in  themselves,  had  the  effect  to  counteract 
the  most  efficient  measures  whicli  had  been  resorted  to 
by  the  friends  of  the  revival,  and  were  supposed  by 
them  to  be  designed  for  that  purpose,  they  of  course 


168  CAUSES  or  the  schism. 

regarded  tliem  witli  great  repugnance.  Some  modifi- 
cation were  made,  but  tlie  opponents  of  the  restric- 
tions were  not  satisfied.  Tlie  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  in  which  the  influence  of  the  Messrs. 
Tennent  was  prominent,  threw  themselves  back  upon 
their  reserved  rights,  and  the  old  controversy  on  Mr. 
Gillespie's  overture,  so  happily  settled  in  1722,  by  the 
adoption  of  Mr.  Dickinson's  articles,  was  in  a  measure 
revived.  Alleging  conscientious  objections  to  the  acts 
of  the  Synod,  this  Presbytery  claimed  the  legal  right 
not  to  be  bound  by  them,  and  thereupon  actually  pro- 
ceeded to  grant  licenses  to  one  or  more  candidates 
without  the  required  examination.  Matters  went  on 
in  this  way — the  irritation  all  the  while  becoming 
greater,  and  the  breach  between  the  two  joarties  wider 
and  wider — till  the  year  1V41,  when  the  advocates  of 
the  restrictions,  weary  of  opposition,  determined  on 
settling  the  whole  affair  in  a  summary  manner,  by  the 
ejection  of  their  refractory  brethren.  A  long  and  se- 
vere protest  was  introduced  into  the  Synod,  in  which 
the  authors  of  it,  declaring  themselves  "  grieved  at  our 
very  hearts  with  the  dreadful  divisions,  distractions 
and  convulsions  which  all  of  a  sudden  have  seized  this 
infant  Church,"  of  which  all  they  say,  their  protesting 
brethren,  that  is  the  New  Brunswick  Presbytery  and 
their  associates,  were  the  "  direct  and  proper  cause,  l^y 
their  unwearied,  unscriptural,  anti-presbyterial,  unchar- 
itable and  abusive  practices,"  proceed  to  assert  in  the 
most  formal  and  solemn  manner,  that  these  brethren 
have  no  right  to  be  considered  members  of  that  body, 
on  account  of  "  principles  and  practices  which  render 


ATTEJIPTS   AT    MEDIATION.  169 

all  union  with  them  in  ecclesiastical  matters  monstrous 
and  absurd ;"  and  to  declare  further,  that  if  these 
brethren  shall  still  be  allowed  to  sit  and  act,  "  what- 
soever shall  be  done,  voted  or  transacted  by  them  con- 
trary to  our  judgment,  shall  be  of  no  force  or  obliga- 
tion to  us,  being  done  or  acted  by  a  judicatory,  consist- 
ing in  part  of  members  who  have  no  authority  to  act 
with  us  in  ecclesiastical  matters.""  All  this  while,  it 
must  be  remembered,  the  accused  party  had  had  no 
trial,  and  not  one  of  the  charges  on  the  ground  of 
which  they  w^ere  thus  declared  out  of  the  pale  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  had  been  legally  proved.  On  a 
trial  of  strength,  the  adherents  to  the  party  thus  pro- 
testing being  found  to  be  in  the  majority,  the  minority 
were  compelled  to  withdraw. 

The  members  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  were 
all  absent  when  these  violent  proceedings  took  place. 
But  the  next  year  they  made  their  a2")pearance  in  the 
Synod,  and,  with  that  noble  champion  of  truth  and 
right,  Jonathan  Dickinson,  at  their  head,  commenced 
a  vigorous  effort  to  heal  the  melancholy  breach.  A 
conference  was  proposed  and  ordered,  but  the  question 
now  arose,  who  should  be  the  judges  in  the  case.  The 
ejected  members  insisted  on  excluding  all  who  signed 
the  offensive  protest,  which  would  throw  the  power  of 
deciding  mainly  into  the  hands  of  the  IS^ew  York  Pres- 
bytery. The  protesting  Ijrethren  would  neither  allow 
the  ejected  members  nor  the  absentees  of  the  last  year 

*  This  protest,  which  is  too  long  to  be  a  long  series  of  mutual  irritations,  may 
inserted  here,  is  a  singular  proof  of  the  carry  even  good  men.  Its  language  is  iu 
extent  to  which  party  spirit,  influenced  by    the  highest  degree  harsh  and  vituperative. 


170        NEW  YORK  PRESBYTERY  PROTEST 

to  act  ill  tlie  matter,  insisting  tliat  tliey  tliemselves 
were  tlie  Synod  when  tliey  adopted  the  protest,  and 
had  acted  as  such,  and  would  be  called  to  account, 
neither  by  absent  members  nor  by  any  judicature  on 
earth.  One  of  their  number  declared  his  judgment  in 
favor  of  submitting  to  a  review  in  the  Synod  as  now 
met,  but  whether  he  intended  the  ejected  members 
should  be  admitted  to  a  vote  in  that  review,  his  re- 
corded opinion  does  not  affirm. 

Finding  all  attempts  to  secure  a  reconsideration 
ineffectual,  the  New  York  members  now  entered  their 
solemn  protest  against  the  whole  transaction,  as  illegal, 
unprecedented,  "  contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  Gospel, 
and  subversive  of  our  excellent  constitution ;"  declar- 
ing, moreover  that  "the  excluded  members  ought  to 
be  owned  and  esteemed  as  members  of  the  Synod,  un- 
til they  are  excluded  by  a  regular  and  impartial  pro- 
cess against  them,  according  to  the  methods  presented 
in  Sacred  Scripture,  and  j^racticed  by  the  Churches  of 
the  Presbyterian  j^ersuasion."  This  protest  they  de- 
sired should  be  recorded  in  the  minutes  for  a  perpet- 
ual memorial  Nor  did  they  stop  with  this.  Very 
earnestly  did  this  noble  body  of  men,  constituting  the 
flower  of  the  whole  Synod,  labor  for  reconciliation. 
That  the  l^arty  who  had  been  ejected  were  wrong 
in  many  respects,  they  freely  acknowledged.  They 
were  by  no  means  disposed  to  justify  their  disorderly 
intrusions  into  other  congregations  than  their  OAvn, 
their  censorious  judgments  of  the  spiritual  state  of  men 
of  unimpeached  standing  in  the  Church,  and  especially 
their  refusal  to  submit  to  the  regulations  of  the  Sjniod 


AND    REMONSTRANCE.  lYl 

in  respect  to  tlie  examination  of  candidates  for  the 
ministry.'^  But  tliey  had  strong  sympathy  with  them 
as  men  zealous  for  the  j^romotion  of  living  piety  ;  they 
believed  the  right  was  on  their  side  in  the  matter  now 
immediately  in  contest ;  and  could  not  allow  them  to 
be  censured  by  the  highest  judicatory  of  the  Church, 
much  less  ejected  from  its  membership,  without  the 
process  of  a  legal  trial.  At  a  meeting  convened  in 
Newark,  in  the  Spring  of  1743,  they  presented  a  very 
able  and  temperate  j^aper,  kindly  but  feithfuUy  ex- 
pressing their  views  of  what  was  wrong  in  both  parties, 
urging  a  reconciliation,  and  proposing  as  a  last  resort, 
that  another  Synod  should  be  created  by  a  mutual 
agreement ;  so  that  all  the  members  having  free  per- 
mission to  choose  between  the  two  bodies,  both  parties 
might  be  able  to  labor  in  their  spheres  for  the  com- 
mon cause,  and  be  at  the  same  time  on  friendly  rela- 

*  The  following  extract,  furnished  me  to  run  into  at  the  present  day  that  we  ought 

by  the  kindness  of  Rev.  Richard  Webster,  not  to  encourage :     1.  Their  being  led  by 

from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Burr  to  Dr.  Bellamy,  impressions  and  impulses  made  on  their 

shows   the  cautious   wisdom  with  which  minds  with  or  without  a  text  of  Scripture, 

this  class  of   men    were    accustomed    to  i;ind  taking  their  own  passions  and  imagin- 

watch  every  evil  tendency  which  they  dis-  ations  for  the  operations  of  God's  Spirit, 

covered  mingling  itself  with  the  great  re-  2.  Giving  heed  to  visions,  trances  and  rev-, 

ligious  movement  of  the  age  :  elations.     3.  Speaking  of   divine  things 

"June  28,  1742,    Beloved   Brother— I  with  an  air  of  levity,  vanity,  laughter,  &c. 

have  so  many  things  lying  on  my  mind  4.  Declaring  their  judgment  about  others 

that   I   know  not  how  to    communicate  openly  and  freely  in  (heir  absence,  wheth- 

them  with  pen  and  ink.     I  long  to  have  er  they  are  converted  or  not.     fi.  Making 

you  alone  a  few  hours,  that  I  might  un-  their  own  feelings  a  rule  to  judge  others 

bosom  myself  freely ;  but 'tis  good  to  have  by.    6.  For  laymen  to  take  upon  them  to 

no  will  of  our  own.     'Tis  glad  tidings  of  exhort  in  a  public  assembly.    7.  Separa- 

great  joy  we  hear  from  Southberry.    But  ting  from  their  minister  under  a  notion  of 

some  things  that  I  have  heard  from  there  his  being  unconverted.  .  .  Things  with  us 

I  don't  see  through,  which  in  some  meas-  are  much  as  when  1  saw  you.     I  have  had 

ure  damps  my  joy.    The  bearer  has  given  a  few  intervals  of  nearness  to  God,  but 

me  more  satisfaction.     Glory  be  to  God,  alas!  how  short.    But  Oh,  how  sweet  and 

that  He  carries  on  Ilis  work  in  any  way,  pleasant.     '  Let    Him  kiss  me   with  the 

I  do  rejoice,  and  will  rejoice.    However,  kissesof  His  mouth,  for  His  love  is  sweeter 

there  are  some  things  that  persons  are  apt  than  wine.' " 


172  SEPAKATIOX    CONSUMMATED. 

tious.  But  here  again  their  efforts  failed.  The  ejected 
brethren  would  listen  to  no  terms  till  the  illegal  protest 
should  be  withdrawn.  The  members  of  the  other  party 
would  make  none  which  do  not  include  satisfaction 
for  the  past,  promises  of  amendment  for  the  future, 
and  an  undoing  of  all  that  had  been  done  contrary  to 
their  judgment.  On  these  conditions  alone  would 
they  allow  the  ejected  brethren  to  take  a  seat  in  "our 
Synod ;"  and  as  to  the  mutual  agreement  to  form  a 
new  one,  that  would  be,  they  judged,  to  perpetuate 
schism,  and  therefore  could  not  be  done. 

The  proposals  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  being 
thus  unanimously  rejected,  another  paper  was  presented, 
signed  by  four  ministers,  of  whom  Mr.  Burr  was  one,  in 
which  they  declared  that  while  they  had  no  unbroth- 
erly  treatment  from  the  Synod  to  complain  of  in  rela- 
tion to  themselves,  they  could  not  consent  to  sit  and 
act  as  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  while  the  members 
of  the  New  Brunswick  Presbytery  and  their  adherents, 
Avho  were  as  truly  members  of  the  Sjmod  as  themselves, 
were  denied  a  seat  in  it. 

The  next  year  all  the  members  of  the  New  York 
Presbytery  were  absent.  Some  further  efforts  were 
made  to  bring  aljout  an  agreement,  either  to  renew 
the  union,  or  separate  on  terms  deemed  equitable  by 
both  the  parties;  but  these  proving  ineffectual,  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York  having  determined  to  make 
common  cause  with  the  aggrieved  party,  united  with 
the  two  Presbyteries  into  which  the  former  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunsvrick  had  now  grown,  and  founded 
in  the  month  of  September,  1745,  the  Synod  of  New 


SYNOD  OF  NEW  YORK  FORMED. 


1T3 


York.*  This  Synod  held  its  first  meeting  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  and  chose  for  its  first  Moderator,  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Dickinson.  Thus  was  consummated  the 
First  Great  Schism  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


*  Minutes,  p.  232.  The  Presbyteries 
composing  the  new  Synod  were  those  of 
New  York,  New  Brunswick  and  New  Cas- 
tle. Of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  were 
present  the  following  ministers:  Messrs. 
Jonathan  Dickinson,  John  Pierson,  Eben- 
ezer  Pemberton,  Simon  Horton,  Aaron 
Burr,  Azariah  Ilorton,  Timothy  Jones, 
Eliab  Byram,  Robert  Sturgeon.  The 
platform  on  which  it  established  itself  is 
as  follows : 

"The  ministers  and  elders  before  men- 
tioned, first  considered  and  agreed  upon 
the  following  articles,  as  the  plan  and 
foundation  of  their  Synodical  union: 

"1.  They  agree  that  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith,  with  the  Larger  and 
Shorter  Catechisms,  be  the  public  cen- 
fession  of  their  faith,  in  such  manner  as 
was  agreed  unto  by  the  Synod  of  Phila- 
delphia in  the  year  1729,  and  to  be  inserted 
in  the  latter  end  of  this  book.  And  they 
declare  the'r  approbation  of  the  Directory 
of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westmin- 
ster as  the  general  plan  of  worship  and 
discipline. 

"2.  They  agree  that  in  matters  of  dis- 
cipline, and  those  things  that  relate  to  the 
peace  and  good  order  of  our  Churches, 
they  shall  be  determined  according  to  the 
major  vote  of  miuisters  and  elders,  with 
which  vote  every  member  shall  actively 
concur  or  pacifically  acquiesce;  but  if  any 
member  cannot  in  conscience  agree  to  the 
determination  of  the  majority,  but  sup- 
poses himself  obliged  to  act  contrary 
thereunto,  and  the  Synod  think  themselves 
obliged  to  insist  upon  it  as  essentially  ne- 
cessary to  the  well-being  of  our  Churches, 
in  that  case,  such  dissenting  member 
promises  peaceably  to  withdraw  from  the 
body,  without  endeavoring  to  raise  any 
dispute  or  contention  upon  the  debated 
point,  or  any  unjust  alienation  of  atl'octicn 
from  them. 


"3.  If  any  menber  of  their  body  sup- 
poses that  he  hath  any  thing  to  object 
against  any  of  his  brethren  M'ith  respect  to 
error  in  doctrine,  immorality  in  life,  or 
negligence  in  his  ministry,  he  shall  not 
on  any  account  propagate  the  scandal 
until  the  person  objected  against  is  dealt 
with  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Gos- 
pel and  the''known  method  of  their  disci- 
pline. 

"  4.  They  agree  that  all  who  have  a  com- 
petent degree  of  ministerial  knowledge, 
are  orthodox  in  their  doctrine,  regular  in 
their  lives,  and  diligent  in  their  endeavors 
to  promote  the  important  designs  of  vital 
godliness,  and  that  will  submit  to  their 
discipline,  shall  be  cheerfully  admitted 
into  their  communion. 

"  And  they  do  also  agree  that  in  order 
to  avoid  all  divisive  methods  among  their 
ministers  and  congregations,  and  to 
strengthen  the  discipline  of  Christ  in  the 
Churches  in  these  parts,  they  will  mair. 
tam  a  correspondence  with  the  Synod  of 
Philadelphia,  in  this  their  first  meeting, 
by  appointing  two  of  their  members  to 
meet  with  the  said  Synod  of  Philadelphia, 
at  their  next  convention,  and  to  concert 
with  them  such  measures  as  may  best 
promote  the  precious  interests  of  Chrisi'd 
kingdom  in  these  parts. 

"And  that  they  may  in  no  respect  en- 
courage any  factious  separating  practices 
or  principles,  they  agree  that  they  will 
not  intermeddle  with  judically  hearing 
the  complaints,  or  with  supplying  with 
ministers  and  candidates  such  parties  of 
men  as  shall  separate  from  any  Presbyte- 
rian or  Congregational  Churches  that  are 
not  within  their  bounds,  unless  the  matters 
of  controversy  be  submitted  to  their  juris- 
diction or  advice  by  both  parties," 

At  the  same  meeting  they  prepared  and 
adopted  "  a  testimony  to  the  work  of  Uod's 
glorious  grace,  which  has  been  carried  on 
in  these  parts  of  the  laud."  Minutes,  pp. 
232-3. 


174  OLD    SIDE   AND    NEW   SIDE. 

Two  distinct  bodies  now  existed  side  by  side,  hold- 
ing the  same  doctrine  and  the  same  platform  of  Churcb. 
government,  free  to  rival  each  other  in  their  operations 
on  the  same  field,  and  having  no  other  connection  than 
that  of  an  occasional  more  or  less  friendly  correspond- 
ence. They  were  called,  and  had  been  from  the  be- 
ginning of  their  divisions,  in  the  current  language  of 
the  day,  the  Old  Side  and  the  New  Side.  The  Old 
Side  were  still  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  and  the 
New  Side  formed  the  Synod  of  New  York.  As  such 
they  remained  separate  till  the  year  1758,  a  period  of 
thirteen  years. 

With  the  history  of  this  Church,  at  the  period  now 
under  review,  are  connected  the  organization  and  the 
early  fortunes  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

This  institution,  like  most  of  our  most  eminent  lit- 
erary institutions,  owes  its  origin  entirely  to  religious 
considerations,  and  grew  out  of  the  religious  necessities 
of  the  times  and  circumstances  to  which  we  have  just 
referred.  From  the  first  settlement  of  the  Province,  the 
want  of  an  adequate  supply  of  well  qualified  ministers 
had  been  bitterly  felt  in  this  region.*  The  dependence 
of  the  Churches  was,  chiefly,  on  the  two  Colleges  of  New 
England,  together  with  such  individuals  as  might  emi- 
grate from  Europe  after  completing  their  education. 
To  meet  this  deficiency,  the  venerable  William  Ten- 
nent,  senior,  established  under  his  own  care,  at  Ne- 

*  The  letters  of  the  early  Scotch  settlers  the  encouragement  of  the  Plantation,  is 
speak  of  this  deficiency  more  than  once,  [that]  you  would  be  instrumental  to  send 
James  Johnstone,  of  Sjiotswoode,  in  his  us  over  some  ministers,  who,  I  dare  en- 
letter  to  his  brother,  John  Johnstone,  gage,  shall  ever  after  be  thankful,"  &c. 
druggist  in  Edinburgh,  Dec.  12, 1784,  said,  Model  of  the  Government,  Whitehead,  p. 
"  What  I  most  earnestly  desire  of  you,  for  2'J9. 


COLLEGE   OF   NEW    JERSEY.  l^S 

shaminy,  a  classical  and  theological  school,  wliicli  ob- 
tained, from  tlie  building  in  wliicli  it  was  kej^t,  the 
name  of  the  "  Log  College."*  The  supposed  inade- 
quacy of  the  instruction  received  in  that  institution, 
together  with  the  views  and  feelings  which  marked  its 
spirit  and  distinguished  the  preachers  who  came  forth 
from  it,  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  causes  of  the  jeal- 
ousy which  ended  in  the  disruption  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  As  the  scenes  of  the  great  revival 
passed  along,  and  the  necessity  of  ^more  numerous  and 
more  fervent  preachers  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  peo- 
ple on  the  one  hand,  and  the  mischiefs  of  employing 
men  of  inaderpiate  qualifications  on  the  other,  became 
more  and  more  apparent,  the  two  parties  were  contin- 
ually reproaching  each  other,  the  one  complaining  of 
deficient  piety,  and  the  other  of  deficient  education  in 
their  candidates  introduced  into  the  Gospel  ministry. 

To  meet  the  difficulty,  some  efforts  had  been  made 
in  the  Synod  before  the  separation,  to  establish  a  liter- 
ary institution  adecjuate  to  the  wants  of  the  times.  An 
overture  to  that  effect  was  introduced  in  the  year  1739, 
and  a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Pemberton, 
Dickinson,  Cross  and  Andrews,  were  apj^ointed,  with 
directions  that  two  of  their  number  should  be  sent  to 
Europe  to  prosecute  the  affair,  if  possible,  and  if  it  should 
be  necessary,  that  Mr.  Pemberton  should  go  to  Boston 
"pursuant  to  this  design."      This  committee  entered 

*  Log  College,  by  Dr.  Archibald  Alcxan-  broad,  and  to  me  it  seemed  to  resemble 

der,  p.  14.     Whitefield,  in  his  journal,  p.  the  schools  of   the  old  prophets."    In  a 

280,  under  date  of  November,  1739,  speaks  note  he  adds   in  175G  :    "  This  is  now  in- 

of  this  school  as  follows :  "It  is  a  log  house,  creased  to  a  large  College  now  erecting  in 

about  twenty  feet  long,  and  near  as  many  the  New  Jerseys." 


176  ORIGIN  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 

upon  tlieir  work,  and  laid  out  plans  for  its  prosecution, 
"but  tlie  war  breaking  out,"  say  the  minutes,  "be- 
tween England  and  Spain,  tlie  calling  of  the  Synod 
was  omitted,  and  the  whole  affair  was  laid  aside  for 
that  time."  It  was  resumed  subsequently,  and  an  in- 
stitution founded,  but  it  never  rose  above  the  dignity 
of  an  academy. 

Immediately  after  the  separation,  the  Synod  of  New 
York,  who  were  certainly  no  less  deeply  sensible  than 
their  brethren  of  the  value  of  education,  finding  the 
school  at  Neshaminy  in  a  state  of  decline,  l^egan  to 
take  measures  for  the  institution  of  a  Colleo^e  within 
their  own  boundaries.  One  of  the  motives  which 
urged  on  the  design  is  said  to  have  been  the  ill  treat- 
ment which  the  devoted  Brainerd  received  at  Yale, 
aided  perhaps  by  the  dissatisfaction  shown  by  the  offi- 
cers of  that  institution  towards  the  ministers  who  now 
composed  the  Synod,  for  having  ordained  Da\dd 
Brainerd  after  they  had  exj)elled  him  from  their  Col- 
lege. Indeed,  it  is  asserted,  on  the  authority  of  very 
direct  tradition,  as  a  remark  of  Mr.  Burr,  that  "  if  it 
had  not  been  for  the  treatment  received  by  Mr.  Brain- 
erd at  Yale  College,  New  Jersey  College  never  would 
have  been  erected."^' 

The  germ  out  of  which  the  College  ultimately  grew, 
was  i:)lanted  at  Elizabethtown,  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  Dickinson.  This  distin squished  divine 
and  scholar — the  leader  of  his  party  in  the  old  Synod, 
and  the  first  moderator  of  the  new — havincf  been  ac- 

o 
*  Log  College,  by  Dr,  Alexander,  p.  V27. 


FIRST   CHARTER.  177 

customed,  as  is  supposed,  for  several  years,  to  carry  on, 
ill  connection  with  the  duties  of  his  ministry,  a  school 
for  instruction  in  classical  studies,  had  at  this  time 
under  his  care,  a  considerable  number  of  young  men 
who  were  pursuing  a  regular  course  of  liberal  educa- 
tion.    Measures  were  accordingly  adojDted,  as  soon  as 
practicable,  to  obtain  a  charter,  and  erect  this  school 
into  a  college.     Such  a  charter  was  granted,  and  passed 
the  great  seal  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  under 
the  administration  of  John  Hamilton,  President  of  His 
Majesty's  Council,  and  officiating  as  Governor  after  the 
decease  of  Governor  Morris,  on  the  22d  of  October, 
1746.'"*     The  persons  to  whom  it  was  granted  were 
Jonathan  Dickinson,  John  Pierson,  Ebenezer  Pember- 
ton  and  Aaron  Burr,   ministers  of  the   Gospel,   and 
some  others,  j)robably  in  part  laymen,  whose  names  I 
have  not  been  able  to  ascertain ;  and  the  name  of  the 
institution  so  incorporated  was  "  The  College  of  New 
Jersey."     The  trustees  thus   empowered  and  encour- 
aged, lost  no  time  in  carrying  the  worthy  purj^ose  into 
execution.     On  the  9th  of  February  following,  they 
notified  the  public  of  their  appointment  through  the 
press,  decjaring  their  intention  to  open  the  College 
during  the  Spring,  some  time  in  May  at  latest,  and  in- 
viting applications  for  admission  from  all  persons  duly 
qualified  by  their  studies.     Before  the  end  of  April 

*  The  following  extract  from  the  State  this  Province  of   New  Jersey  tested  by 

Records  at  Trenton,  is  published  by  Dr.  John  Hamilton,  Esq.,    President  of   Hia 

Green,  in  the  notes  to  his  Discourses,  p.  Majesty's    Council,    and    Commander-in- 

283.  chief  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  the 

"Mem.  of  a  charter  for  a  college.    A  22d  of  October,  1746."    The  charter  itself 

charter  to  incorporate  sundry  persons  to  never  was  recorded, 
found  a  college  passed  the  great  seal  of 

12 


178 


PRESIDENT   DICKINSON. 


they  published  another  notification,  fixing  the  time 
and  place  of  opening,  and  making  known  to  the  public 
the  formal  appointment  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Dickin- 
son as  President  of  the  intended  institution.*  There 
can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  that  the  College  was  actually 
organized  during  the  last  A^eek  in  May,  1747,  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  and  that  Mr.  Dickinson  having  accepted  the 
appointment,  then  and  there  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office.  But  these  fair  and  hopeful  beginnings  were 
destined  to  a  speedy  disappointment.  President  Dick- 
inson officiated  in  his  new  station  only  four  months  and 
a-half,  when  he  was  seized  with  a  pleuritic  disease,  and 
died  on  the  7th  of  October,  1747,  in  the  60th  year  of 
his  age.f     The  unanticipated  event  disconcerted  the 


*  The  notification,  which  is  to  be  found 
in  the  "  New  York  Gazette,  revived  in 
the  weekly  Post  Boy,"  under  date  of  Feb- 
ruary 9th  and  February  16tb,  17iG-7,  is  as 
follows : 

"Whereas,  a  charter  with  full  and  am- 
ple privileges,  has  been  granted  by  His 
Majesty,  under  the  seal  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  bearing  date  the  2i!d  of  Oc- 
tober, 17-lG,  for  erecting  a  college  withrii 
the  said  Province,  to  Jonathan  Dickinson, 
John  Pierson,  Ebeuezer  Pemberton  and 
Aaron  Burr,  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and 
some  other  gentlemen,  as  Trustees  of  the 
said  college,  by  which  charter  equal  liber- 
ties and  privileges  are  secured  to  every 
denomination  of  Christians,  any  diflereut 
religious  sentiments  notwithstanding.  The 
said  Trustees  have  therefore  thought  proper 
to  inform  the  public  that  they  design  to 
open  the  said  College  the  next  spring,  and 
notify  any  person  or  persons  who  are  qual- 
ified by  preparatory  learnmg  for  admis- 
sion, that  some  time  in  May  next  at  latest, 
they  maybe  there  admitted  to  an  academ- 
ical education." 

The  following  is  from  the  same  paper, 
under  date  of  April  'JTtli,  1747  : 

"This  is  to  inform  the  public  that  the 


Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
hare  appointed  the  liev.  Mr.  Dickinson 
President  of  the  said  college,  which  will 
be  opened  the  fourth  week  in  May  next, 
at  Elizabethtown,  at  which  time  and  place 
all  persons  suitably  qualified  may  be  ad- 
mitted to  academic  education." 

This  notice  is  inserted  in  each  success- 
ive paper  up  to  the  'i<3th  of  May,  when  it 
ceases  to  appear. 

t  The  following  obituary  notice,  which 
I  find  in  the  New  York  Gazette  and  Week- 
ly Post  Boy,  under  date  of  Oct.  ]  lith,  1747, 
illustrates  the  character  jf  this  distin- 
guished man  whose  name  has  been  so  of- 
ten mentioned  in  connection  with  this  his- 
tory, and  whose  intluence  was  so  impor- 
tant and  valuable  over  the  course  of  af- 
fairs in  this  congregation. 

"Elizabethtown  in  New  Jersej',  Oct.  10. 

"  On  Wednesday  morning  last,  about  4 
o'clock,  died  here  of  a  pleuritic  illness, 
that  eminently  learned,  faithful  and  pious 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  President  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jonathan  Dickinson,  in  the  CuUi  year  of 
his  age,  who  had  been  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyierian  Church  in  this  town  for  near- 
ly forty  years,  and  was  the  g'oiy  and  joy 


STUDENTS   REMOVED   TO   NEWARK.  179 

plans,  caused  an  abrupt  suspension  of  tlie  infant 
enterprise,  and  led  subsequently  as  we  shall  see  here- 
after, to  a  new  organization,  on  a  new  and  independ- 
ent basis.  On  tlie  decease  of  Mr.  Dickinson,  tlie  pupils, 
eight  in  number,  were  removed  to  Newark,  and  ])laced 
under  the  care  and  instruction  of  Mr.  Burr.*  He, 
like  Dickinson,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  instructing  in 
the  classic  languages,  and  as  early  as  1746  had  under 
his  direction  a  large  Latin  school.  After  recei\dng 
Mr.  Dickinson's  students,  he  still  'continued  the  charge 
of  his  own,  employing  one  or  more  assistants,  as  he 
had  before  been  accustomed  to  do,  and  the  school 
went  on  in  this  undefined  shape,  probably  without  the 
appointment  of  another  president  on  the  part  of  the 
trustees  of  the  College,  about  the  space  of  a  year. 

of  it.  In  him  conspicuously  appeared  when  IheRev.  Mr.  Pierson,of Woodbridge, 
those  natural  and  acquired  moral  and  spir-  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  as  he 
itual  endowments  which  constitute  a  truly  lived  desired  of  all  so  never  any  person  in 
excellent  and  valuable  man,  a  good  scholar,  these  parts  died  more  lamented.  Our 
an  eminent  divine,  and  a  serious  devout  fathers  where  are  they  and  the  prophets, 
Christian.  He  was  greatly  adorned  with  do  they  live  forever?" 
the  gifts  and  graces  of  his  Heavenly  Mas-  *  The  number  has  been  heretofore  stated 
ter,  in  the  light  whereof  he  appeared  as  a  at  about  twenty.  Such  is  the  statement 
star  of  superior  brightness  and  influence  of  Dr.  Green,  p.  2',iG.  He  took  his  csti. 
in  the  orb  of  the  Church,  which  has  sus-  mate  from  the  fact,  that  according  to  the 
taincd  a  great  and  unspeakable  loss  in  his  catalogue,  nineteen  persons  took  their  first 
death.  He  was  of  uncommon  and  very  degrees  within  four  years  from  the  date  of 
extensive  usefulness.  He  boldly  appeared  the  removal.  But  it  is  too  much  to  as, 
in  the  defence  of  the  great  and  important  sume  that  all  the  graduates  of  the  first 
truths  of  our  most  holy  religion  and  the  three  classes  had  been  under  the  care  of 
Gospel  doctrines  of  the  free  and  sovereign  Mr.  Dickinson.  Nothing  is  more  com-' 
grace  of  God.  He  was  a  zealous  promoter  mon  than  admission  to  advanced  stand- 
of  godly  practice  and  godly  living,  and  a  ing,  even  in  well  established  colleges, 
bright  ornament  to  his  profession.  In  Thus  in  March,  1750,  the  three  classes  of 
times  and  cases  of  difficulty  he  was  a  1751,  '52,  and  '53,  contained  only  twenty- 
ready,  wise  and  able  counsellor.  By  his  five  students,  yet  the  number  of  graduate,** 
death  our  infant  college  is  deprived  of  the  in  those  classes  amounted  to  thirty-one. 
benefit  and  advantage  of  his  superior  ac-  See  letter  to  Joseph  Shippen,  and  compare 
compli.shmcntti,  which  aflbrded  a  favorable  triennial  catalogue.  The  estimate  above 
prospect  of  its  future  flourishing  and  pros-  given  is  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Burr's 
perity  under  his  inspection.  His  remains  obituary,  and  may  I  presume,  be  relied 
were  decently  interred   here   yesterday,  upon. 


180  GOVERNOR    BELCHER. 

But  the  noble  design  of  establisliing  a  College  on  an 
adequate  and  permanent  foundation  had  not  been 
abandoned.  The  same  year  in  which  Mr.  Dickinson 
died,  and  not  far  from  the  same  date,  that  distinguished 
patron  of  learning  and  religion,  Jonathan  Belcher,  as- 
sumed the  government  of  the  Province.*  The  infant 
seminary  immediately  engaged  his  attention,  and  se- 
cured his  most  cordial  encouragement.  As  early  as 
the  31st  of  May,  1*748,  we  find  him  in  correspondence 
with  President  Edwards,  from  whom  he  had  before 
that  date  received  a  communication  respecting  it.f 
Deploring  the  religious  errors  which  he  fears  are  gain- 
ing ground  in  the  New  England  Colleges,  "  in  destruc- 
tion of  the  doctrines  of  free  grace,"  and  commending 
the  new  enterprise,  which  he  denominates  an  embryo 
college,  as  "a  noble  design,  and  destined,  if  God 
pleases,  to  prove  an  extensive  blessing,"  he  says :  "  I 
have  adopted  it  as  a  daughter,  and  hoj)e  it  may  in 
time  become  an  alma  mater  to  this  and  the  neighbor- 
boring  Provinces."  He  was  at  that  time  getting  ad- 
vice and  assistance  in  the  draught  of  a  "  charter,"  and, 
expressing  his  cordial  thanks  to  the  illustrious  New 
England  theologian  for  his  kind  hints,  promises,  like 
Mary,  "  to  keep  all  these  things,  and  ponder  them  in 
his  heart,"  adding  the  assurance  that  so  far  as  God 
should  enable  him,  he  would  exert  himself  in  every 

*  Governor  Belcher  arrived  in  New  Jer-  Governor-in-chief  of  the  Province  of  New 

sey  about  the  end  of  the  summer  of  1747.  Jersey,  to  the  Council  and  General  Assem- 

The  New  York  Gazette  and  Post  Boy,  un.  bly  of  said   Province,  on   Thursday,  the 

der  date  of  August  -list,  contains  a  notice  20th  of  August,  1747." 

of  '"The  Speesh  of  His  Excellency,  Jona-  t  Life  of  President  Edwards.     Worka, 

than  Belcher,  Esq.,  Captain  General  and  vol.  i,  p.  207,  ed.  New  York,  ISSO. 


NEW    CHAETER.  181 

way  to  bring  the  College  to  maturity.     Smith,  in  his 
history  of  New  Jersey,  speaks  of  the  charter  given  by 
Governor  Belcher  as  an  enlargement  of  the  old  one, 
but  both  its  history  and  its  terms  indicate  the  con- 
trary.    It  is  in  all  respect  an  original  document,  con- 
taining other  jmvileges,  and  conferred  upon  a  new 
selection  of  trustees.     No  former  charter  was  recoo-- 
nized  in  it,  and  the  probability  is,  that  although  the 
former  charter  had  been  accepted  and  acted  upon  for 
a  time,  and  though  the  Trustees  in  announcing  that 
fact  to  the  public,  were  free  to  denominate  it  "  a  char- 
ter with  full  and  ample  privileges,"  yet  the   hopes 
raised  by  the  accession  of  Governor  Belcher  to  the 
chair  of  office,  a  friend  of  the  Presbyterians  beyond  all 
who  had  preceded  him  in  that  station,  had  induced 
them  on  the  decease  of  President  Dickinson,  to  let  the 
old  charter  fall  into  disuse,  in  order  to  try  what  might 
be  accomplished  by  a  new  beginning.     The  procedure, 
whatever  may  have  been  its  character  and  motives, 
did  not  give  universal  satisfaction.     It  is  well  known 
that  the  change  of  men  to  whom  the  power  of  direct- 
ing the   College  was  intrusted — some  who  had  been 
named  in  the  old  charter  or  elected  under  it,  being  left 
out,  and  others,  among  whom  were  the  governors  of 
the  Province  for  the  time  being  ex-qficio,  introduced, 
was  such  as  to  give  great  offence  to  some  of  the  earliest 
promoters  of  the  enterprise,  and  one  of  them  at  least, 
Gilbert  Tennant,  was  for  a  consideral^le  time  resolved 
to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  undertaking.* 

The  charter  which  Governor  Belcher  prepared,  and 

*  Edwards'  Works  vol.  i,  p.  275. 


182  COLLEGE   KE-OEGAWIZED. 

under  which  the  College  was  at  length  re-organized, 
and  now  flourishes,  was  granted  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, 1748.  A  small  majority  of  the  trustees  named 
in  it,  convened  at  New  Brunswick,  on  the  13th  of  Oc- 
tober, and,  having  accepted  the  charter,  and  chosen  a 
elerk,  the  president  of  the  board  bemg  absent,  adopted 
an  address  of  thanks  to  Governor  Belcher,  which  had 
been  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Burr,  and  adjourned  to  meet 
at  Newark  during  the  following  month. 

The  organization  of  the  College  thus  incorporated, 
took  place  at  Newark,  in  the  house  of  worship  belong- 
ing to  this  congregation,  on  Wednesday,  the  9th  day 
of  November,  1748,  of  which  a  full  accoimt  I  under- 
stand is  preserved  in  the  College  records.*  The  Gov- 
ernor, who  was  ex-officio  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  and  several  other  members  not  present  at  the 
preliminary  meeting,  having  been  qualified,  the  clerk 
certified  that  he  had  duly  notified  every  member  of 
the  corporation,  "  and  then  took  the  oath  of  office  as 
the  charter  requires."  Thereupon  the  Rev.  Aaron 
Burr  was  unanimously  chosen  President  of  the  College, 
and  the  vote  of  the  trustees  being  made  known  to 
him,  says  the  record,  "  he  was  pleased  modestly  to 
accept  the  same,"  and  took  the  oath  of  office  required 
by  the  charter.  A  class  of  seven  young  men,  namely, 
Enos  Ayres,  Benjamin  Chestnut,  Hugo  Henry,  Israel 
Heed,  Richard  Stockton,  and  Daniel  Thane,  all  but 
one  of  whom  afterwards  l)ecame  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel and  he  one  of  New  Jersey's,  most  distinguished 
jurists,  having  already  completed  their   studies   and 

*  Discourses  of  Dr.  Green,  note,  p.  301. 


FIRST    COMMENCEMENT.  183 

been  examined  and  approved  as  qualified  to  receive 
their  first  degree,  it  was  voted,  that  "  the  Commence- 
ment for  graduating  the  candidates  go  on  this  day." 

To  the  people  of  this  congregation,  that  day  must 
have  been  one  of  intense  interest,  and  those  Avho'can 
remember  how  important  an  event  was  even  an  ordi- 
nary Commencement  in  the  quiet  villages  of  former 
days,  may  imagine  the  profound  excitement  which 
must  have  prevailed  here,  when  the  hopes  cherished 
for  years  by  the  best  men  being  at  length  realized, 
the  people  saw  a  well  chartered  college  spring  into 
being  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  their  own  beloved  and 
almost  idolized  pastor  placed  at  the  head  of  it,  and 
presiding  with  princely  grace  and  dignity  over  the 
distribution  of  its  first  honors. 

The  exercises  of  the  occasion  commenced  in  the  fore- 
noon, with  prayer  by  the  President,  and  publicly 
readino;  the  charter  in  the  meetino'-house.  In  the  af- 
teruon,  the  President  delivered  a  "  handsome  and  ele- 
gant Latin  oration,"  and  the  students  having  performed 
their  parts  in  the  "  customary  scholastic  disputations," 
received  the  deo-ree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  His  Ex- 
cellency  "  was  pleased  to  accept  of  a  degree  of  Mas- 
ter of  Arts,"  and  then  after  a  salutatory  oration  pro- 
nounced by  Mr.  Thane,  the  whole  was  concluded  with 
prayer  by  the  President.  The  evening  was  sj^ent  by 
the  trustees  in  adoj^ting  a  code  of  laws  for  the  College, 
and  making  arrangements  for  its  future  stability  and 
advancement. 

Thus  was  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  after  long  ex- 
ertions and  hopes  deferred,  at  length  brought  to  a  full 


184  BURR   AS   PRESIDENT. 

and  permanent  organization.  Hitherto  it  had  existed 
rather  in  purpose  than  in  reahzation — in  noble  efforts 
frustrated  at  the  very  moment  of  attainment,  and  re- 
quiring to  be  attempted  anew.  Here,  however,  it  had 
reached  a  point  from  which  there  was  to  be  no  re 
ceding  ;  and  its  progress  has  been  from  that  time  con- 
tinually onward.  The  illustrious  Dickinson,  who  stood 
foremost  in  the  incipient  measures  which  resulted  in  its 
establishment,  and  for  a  few  months  presided  over  it 
in  its  incipient  or  tentative  stage,  deserves  the  highest 
place  on  its  escutcheon,  as  its  projector  and  father. 
But  considered  as  a  permanent  institution,  established 
upon  a  legal  basis,  the  organization  to  which  I  have 
referred  was  doubtless  its  true  beginning  ;  and  of  this 
institution,  so  established,  Aaron  Burr  must  be  allowed 
to  have  been  the  first  President.* 

*  The  writer  is  by  no  means  disposed  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  during  the 

to  detract  in  the  least  degree  from  the  last  week  in  May  of  that  year     The  writer 

credit  due  to  the  distinguished  man  whose  hopes  he  may  have  contributed  something 

name,  with  an  affectionate  reverence  which  to  fix  that  honored  name  in  its  place  by  a 

cannot  forego  the  honor  of  such  a  name,  is  more  satisfactory  tenure, 

placed  in  the  College  catalogue  as  the  first  Still,  however,  it  is  due  to  another  name 

in  the  series  of   its  Presidents.    It  was  not  a  whit  the  less  worthy  of  honor,  that 

placed  there,  as  he  understands,  on  the  the  relation  of  each  to  an  institution  of 

authority  of  tradition   only.     Dr.  Green  which  our  country  is  justly  proud,  should 

says  of  that  period  of  the  College  history :  be  accurately  stated.     The  representation 

"Who  were  the  trustees  named  in  that  given  above  is  the  only  one  which  will 

charter,  or  appointed  under  it,  when  or  harmonize  the  somewhat  discordant  testi.. 

where  they  met,  or  at  what  time  and  in  monies  which  have  been  given  respecting 

what  manner  Mr.  Dickinson  was  appoint-  the  origin  of  the  College. 

ed,  cannot  now  be  known,  and  it  is  useless  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  Rev, 

to  conjecture."    The    pamphlet    entitled  Caleb  Smith,  the  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Dick- 

"  History  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  inson,  his  pupil  in  divinity,  and  assistant 

by  a  Graduate,"   takes  the  same  ground,  in  the  instruction  of  that  very  classical 

and  makes  the  same  representation.    But  school  out  of  the  College  grew,  is  perfect- 

the  extracts  given  above,  from  the  New  ly  silent  in  regard  to  the  fact  of  his  Presi- 

York  Post  Boy,  supply  in  a  good  measure  dency,  both  in  his  sermon  at  the  funeral  of 

the  deficient  evidence,  and  enable  us  to  Mr.  Burr,  and  his  preface  to  Mr.  Burr's  ser- 

affirm  that  Mr.  Dickinson  was  appointed  mon  on  the  death  of  Gov.  Belcher,  which 

some  time  between  the  IGth  of  February  led  him  to  speak  of  the  history  of  the  in- 

and  the  27th  of  April,  1747,  and  entered  stiiution.    Jlr.  Burr  himself  is  equally  si- 


BURR   AS    PRESIDENT. 


185 


The  College  remained  in  Newark  after  its  organiza- 
tion about  eight  years,  during  the  first  seven  of  which 
Mr.  Burr  officiated  as  its  President,  in  connection  wdth 
his  duties  as  pastor  of  this  Church.  During  the  first 
three  years  of  his  Presidency  he  had  no  salary  except 
what  he  received,  as  before,  from  the  congregation  of 
which  he  was  pastor.  But  though  the  embarrassments 
of  his  situation  were  discouraging,  no  buildings  having 
as  yet  been  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Col- 
lege,* the  students  being  dispersed  in  private  families, 
the  public  academical  exercises  generally  performed  in 
the  County  Court  Ilouse,^  and  the  circumstances  in 
many  respects  exceedingly  unfavorable  to  the  moral 
habits  and  literary  improvement  of  the  young  men ; 


lent  in  the  sermon  just  referred  to.  The 
tombstone  of  Mr.  Dickinson,  where  a  great 
man  is  apt  to  bear  all  h-s  honors,  simply 
speaks  of  him  as  the  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Elizabethtown.  All  the 
contemporary  notices  which  speak  of  him 
as  President,  are  of  the  most  ephemeral 
and  casual  sort.  On  the  other  hand,  Gov. 
Belcher  is  repeatedly  applauded,  in  the 
most  formal  and  official  manner,  as  the 
founder  of  the  College ;  and  yet  Governor 
Belcher  could  have  had  no  connection  with 
it  during  Mr.  Dickinson's  life,  as  he  came 
into  the  Province  only  a  few  weeks  previous 
to  his  decease.  President  Finley,  in  his 
history  of  the  College,  published  by  order 
of  the  Trustees,  in  1764,  to  which,  says  Dr- 
Green,  quoting  the  words  from  Johnson, 
"regard  is  to  be  paid  as  to  the  narrative  of 
one  who  writes  what  he  knows,  and  what 
is  known  likewise  to  multitudes  besides," 
speaks  expressly  of  Mr.  President  B'.irr  as 
the  first  who  officiated  in  that  station,  and 
the  town  of  Newark  as  the  place  at  which 
THE  College  was  fiust  cpe.ned.  (Sec 
Notes  to  Dr.  Green's  Discouises,  pp.  303, 
304.)  These  statements  and  representations 
seem  to  me  to  require  something  like  the 


interpretation  which  I  have  given  above, 
viz  :  that  the  College  over  which  Mr.  Dick- 
inson presided,  and  which  is  connected 
with  the  present  by  no  continuity  of  re- 
cords, officers  or  legal  authority,  was  not 
regarded  by  contemporaries  as  having  at- 
tained, strictly  speaking,  a  permanent  or. 
ganization  ;  and  that  which  was  subse- 
quently organized  in  Newark,  under  Gov- 
ernor Belcher's  auspices,  though  it  admit- 
ted to  its  honors  the  pupils  who  had  before 
prepared  themselves  for  their  degree,  was 
looked  upon  as,  strictly  speaking,  a  new 
beginning.  This  view  seems  to  be  ex- 
pressed very  explicitly  by  Governor  Liv- 
ingston, in  his  Eulogy  on  Mr.  Burr,  where 
he  says  :  "  To  his  unparalleled  assiduity, 
next  to  the  Divine  blessing,  is  doubtless  to 
be  ascribed  the  present  flourishing  condi- 
tion of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  which> 
from  a  iiiere  private  U7ukrtaking,  is  become 
the  joy  of  its  friends,  and  the  admiration 
and  envy  of  its  enemies." 

*  "Nullum  habens  adhue  domicilium." 
See  Burr's  Oration  on  the  death  of  Dr. 
Doddridge,  Sept.  17r>2. 

t  Historj'  by  President  Finley.  See 
Notes  to  Dr.  Green's  Discourses,  p.  304, 


186  BURR   AS   PRESIDENT. 

yet  tlie  indomitable  energy,  vigilance  and  perseverance 
of  the  excellent  President  overcame  all  obstacles,  and 
the  College  flourisbed,  during  tbat  period,  beyond  tbe 
most  sanguine  expectations  of  its  warmest  friends.* 
Funds  for  its  maintenance  were  at  first  entirely  want- 
ing, and  not  easily  to  be  obtained.  The  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Province,  from  which  its  charter  was 
obtained,  took  no  interest  in  its  w^elfare,  and  the  appeal 
of  the  trustees  for  "  countenance  and  assistance  for  its 
support,"  met  from  them  no  favorable  response.  But 
from  what  is  recorded  respecting  Mr.  Burr's  character 
and  circumstances,  it  may  be  presumed  that  he  con- 
tributed freely  from  his  own  pecuniary  means  to  pro- 
mote its  interests ;  and  we  know  that,  by  the  weight 
of  his  influence  and  his  personal  eiforts,  he  was  able  to 
accomplish  much,  in  securing  for  it  the  patronage  of 
the  liberal  here  and  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  It 
was  through  his  agency  that  subscriptions  were  ob- 
tained in  Boston,  among  which  was  the  sum  of  JBIOO 
from  Col.  Alvord,  justly  denominated  by  a  student  at 
the  time,  "  one  of  the  greatest  benefactors  the  College 
is  blessed  with."  His  intense  interest  in  the  ol)ject 
is  pleasantly  illustrated  by  what  the  same  student 
says  of  the  eftect  produced  upon  him  b}^  hearing  that 
the  College  had  won  £200  in  a  lottery,  that  "  it  hath 
given  the  President  (wlio  hath  been  sick  these  four  or 

*  Thefestimony  of  Governor  Livingston  upon  a  solid  basis,  and  at  length  rearing  it 

on  this  point  has  already  been  quoted,  p.  up  to  that  respectable  condition  and  flour- 

]S(3,  note.    That  of  liev.  Caleb  Smith,  in  his  ishing  state  in  which  we  have  the  satisfac- 

funeral  sermon,  is  equally  explicit.     "He  tion  to  see  it  now.     Forgive  me  the  word 

must  be  allowed,"  he  says,  "  under  God  to  fleurishing,  since  his  auspicious  influence 

liave  had  a  principal  hand  in  bringing  it  is  no  more." 
[the  College]  into  existence,  then  fixing  it 


BUKR    AS    PRESIDENT.  187 

five  days,)  such  a  pleasure,  that  his  spirits  are  greatly 
refreshed,  which  were  before  very  low."* 

Nor  was  it  only  in  the  pecuniary  interest  of  the  in- 
stitution that  the  influence  of  the  President  was  distin- 
guished. Inclined  to  literary  pursuits  from  his  child- 
hood, and  having  already  attained  to  no  mean  emin- 
ence, he  applied  himself  at  once  on  entering  upon  his 
new  station,  with  new  closeness  to  the  branches  of 
study  to  be  taught  in  it ;  and,  having  "  a  singular  turn 
for  instruction,"  his  success  in  this  department  was 
eminent.f  At  this  period  he  had  never  more  than  two 
tutors,  and  sometimes  only  one,  to  assist  him.  Besides 
the  government  of  the  College,  in  which  he  excelled, 
exercising  generally  a  mild  discipline,  but  resorting  to 
severity  with  much  decision  whenever  occasion  required 
it ;  J  and  the  pains  he  took  to  cultivate  the  hearts  of  his 
pupils,  that  he  might  send  them  out  good  Christians, 
as  well  as  good  scholars,  in  which  he  is  said  to  have 
had  great  success  ;§  we  find  him  teaching  personally  the 
higher  branches  of  mathematics,  and  giving  lessons  in 

*  Letter  of  Joseph  Shippen  to  his  father  pp.   16,  17.     "Instead  of  turuincf  every 

in  Philadelphia,  dated  Newark,  18th  June?  branch  of  learning  into  inexplicable  mys- 

1750.  tery,  the  common  pride  of  pedagogues,  he 

t  Funeral  Sermon  by  Rev.  Caleb  Smith,  set  the  most  intricate  points  in  the  clear- 

"  With  what  dignity  and  reputation,"  says  est  light,"  &c. 

Governor  Livingston,  "  did  he  sustain  the  +   On  this  point   Ciovernor  Livingston 

office  of  President!     Sensible  how  import-  speaks  as  follows :  "With  the  same  ease 

ant  to  the  public,  and  through  the  whole  he  secured  the  obedience  and  love  of  his 

thread  of  our  existence,  is  the  early  cul-  pupils.     Ue  had  the  art  of  leading  the  will 

ture  of  the  human  mind,  he  considered  under  invisible  chains,  and  making  reason 

himself,  witii  the  painter  of  old,  as  dc-  no  less  prevalent  than  authority.     Who, 

«i(jninff  for  eternity,     lie  had  the  most  en-  like  him,  could  l)uni^h  an  ofience,  not  only 

gaging  method  of  instruction.     Not  infe-  without  the  resentment,  but  with  the  ap- 

rior  to  the  extent  of  his  capacity  was  his  probation  of  the  delinquent?"  Ac— pp.  18, 

facility  in  communicating.     No  man  hud  a  19. 

happier  talent  of    e-tpressing  his   senti-  §  Smith's  funeral  sermon,  Livingston's 

ments,   or  calling  latent  truth  from  her  Eulogy,  and  the  obituary  notices  of  Mr. 

dark  and  profound  recesses."    Eulogium,  Burr  speak  the  same  language. 


188  BUER    AS    PEESIDENT. 

the  calculation  of  eclipses.  About  tlie  year  1751, 
the  use  of  a  pliilosopliical  apparatus  was  secured, 
contaiuing  an  orrery,  electrical  macliine,  tfec,  and  a 
course  of  experimental  lectures  given  by  a  person 
employed  for  that  purpose.*  Not  far  from  this  time, 
Mr.  Burr  prepared  a  grammar  of  the  Latin  language, 
which  was  published  in  New  York  in  the  Spring  of 
1T52,  and  under  the  title  "Newark  Grammar,"  was 
the  standard  for  a  long  time  in  the  College.f  He 
is  said  to  have  heeii  a  very  fine  Latin  scholar ;  and  as 
a  specimen  of  his  composition  in  that  language,  there 
still  exists  in  manuscript,  an  oration,  delivered  by  him 
in  Newark,  before  the  Board  of  Trustees,  on  the  death 
of  that  distinguished  Divine  and  scholar,  Philip  Dod- 
dridge, D.  D,,  whom  he  takes  occasion  to  applaud  as 
one  who,  when  the  College  was  struggling  with  diffi- 
culties in  its  infant  state,  adorned  it  with  his  friend- 
ship, and  cherished  and  advanced  it  with  his  patronage 
and  beneficence.J 

The  number  of  students,  during  this  period,  increased 
with  great  rapidity.  Al^out  ninety  took  their  first  de- 
gree while  the  College  remained  in  Newark ;  not  a  few 
of  whom  became  eminent  afterwards,  both  in  the  pul- 

*  Letters  of  Joseph  Shippen.  J  "  Certe  inter  tot  luj^entes  hand  ultimum 
+  Joseph  Shippen,  a  student,  writes  un-  locum  sibi  vindicat  Collegium  Neo  Cae- 
der  date  of  April  25,  1752,  to  his  father:  sariense.  Jam  euim  nascenti,  multis  in- 
"I  send  you,  per  Mrs.  Harris,  the  Presi-  commodis  coUuetanti,  rebus  angustis  op- 
dent's  new  Grammar,  as  you  desired,  presso,  beniguissime  respexit,  amicitia 
which  is  advertised  in  the  last  New  York  condecoravit,  patrociuio  et  beueficeutia 
paper,  so  that  I  suppose  that  gentleman  fovit  el  auxit."  Towards  the  close  of  this 
to  whom  3'ou  intended  accidentally  to  have  oration,  he  takes  occasion  to  speak  in 
shown  it  witliout  the  preface,  &c.,  with  a  terms  of  gratitude  of  John  Alford  and 
view  to  know  his  judgment  of  it,  will  hear  James  Allen,  "cum  multis  aliis  Bostonien- 
of  its  bemg  published  before  you  can  have  sibus."  who  had  favored  the  College  with 
an  opportunity  of  letting  him  see  it."  their  bounty. 


PROSPERITY  OF  THE  COLLEGE.  189 

pit  and  in  civil  life ;  and  honorary  degrees  were  con- 
ferred on  several  very  eminent  names.  Among  the 
rest,  Samnel  Davies,  the  renowned  pulpit  orator,  from 
whom  Patrick  Ileniy  is  said  to  have  caught  some  of 
the  fire  of  his  eloquence,  and  who  sul)sequently  be- 
came the  President  of  the  College,  here  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  ;  on  which  occasion 
"he  delivered  a  Thesis  Personales  DU-tinctiones  in 
TrinHate  ■s-unt  ceterncp^  and  vindicated  it  in  a  public 
disj^ute  against  three  opponents."'""^ 

The  i^resence  of  the  College  in  Newark,  made  the 
place,  during  this  period,  a  kind  of  ecclesiastical  me- 
tropolis for  the  l)ranch  of  the  Church  with  which  this 
congregation  was  connected.  The  meetings  of  the 
Synod  were  generally  held  here,  and  the  time  appoint- 
ed for  theni  to  begin  was  "  the  day  after  Commence- 
ment." Here,  in  the  year  1752,  Jonathan  Edwards, 
the  future  President  of  the  College,  and  its  warm 
friend  and  counsellor  from  the  beginning,  who  had 
then  recently  l)ecome  the  father-in-law  of  President 
Burr,  took  his  seat  in  the  Synod  as  a  corresponding 
mem1»er,  and  preached,  as  the  opening  sermon,  his  fa- 
mous discourse  from  James  ii:  19,  afterwards  published 
at  the  request  of  the  Synod,  under  the  title  of  "True 

^■"  See  Davies' Journal,  in  Foote's  Sketch-  owed  much  fo  his  friendship  besides  the 

es  of   Virginia.     The   celebrated  George  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1754."    Again,  (p,  419) 

Whitfield    received   a  similar    honor    in  speaking  of  a  visit  of  Whitfield  to  Gover- 

1754.     Philip  (Life  and  Times  of  George  nor  Uelcher,  he  says:    "It  was  now  the 

Whitfield,  p.  IS'"),)  thus  refers  to  it:    "At  New  Jcrsej  iY'«(M(;;/r<7;i<7(^,  and  the  Presi- 

New  Brunswick  {i.  f.  in  his  first  visit,)  he  dent  and  Trustees  of  the  College  i)resented 

found,  if  not  a  warmer,  a  more  infJueutial  Whiteficld  with  the  degree  of  M.  A.     lie 

friend  in  Aaron  Burr,  afterwards  President  was  pleased  with  this  mark  of  their  res- 

of  New  Jersey  College:  one  of  the  master  pect  from  the  Senate,  but  much  more  with 

spirits  of  his  age  and  country.    Whitfield  the  synod  of  ministers,"  Ac. 


190  bure's  marriage. 

grace  distinguislied  from  the  experience  of  devils."* 
Here  tlie  Synod  of  New  York,  animated  l)y  what  their 
eyes  saw  in  the  proficiency  of  the  students,  and  well 
aware  that  the  school  of  the  prophets  was  among  the 
choicest  institutions  of  their  Church,  devised  and  put  in 
operation  measures  to  secure  for  it,  not  the  sympathy 
alone,  but  the  pecuniary  aid,  of  all  their  congregations ; 
and  to  engage  the  liberality  of  men  of  foreign  lands  in 
promoting  the  truly  Christian  design. f 

During  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his  ministry,  Mr. 
Burr  remained  unmarried.  On  the  29th  of  June,  l'r52, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Esther  Edwards, 
the  third  daughter  of  Kev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  she 
being  at  that  time  only  19  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Burr 
was  a  lady  of  very  distinguished  character  and  accom- 
plishments. She  "  exceeded  most  of  her  sex  in  the 
beauty  of  her  person,  as  well  as  in  her  behaviour  and 
couA^ersation.  She  discovered  an  unafi'ected  natural 
freedom  towards  j)ersons  of  all  ranks  with  whom  she 

*  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  New  York,  them    to  be    annually  observed,  be  sus- 

p.  246.    Works  of  President  Edwards,  vol.  peuded  ou  that  account."     To  this  order 

X,  p.  232.  the  Presbyteries  promptly  responded.    Mr- 

t  In  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  in  1752,  Burr  was  requested  by  the  Trustees  to 
already  referred  to,  we  find  the  following:  take  a  voyage  to  Europe  in  l7o2,  for  the 
"Amotion  being  made  to  the  Synod  by  purpose  of  soliciting  benefactions  in  Great 
the  Trustees  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  Britain  and  Ireland.  But  his  domestic 
to  obtain  a  public  collection  from  all  the  and  other  duties  preventing  his  acceptance 
congregations  belonging  to  the  Synod  ;  of  the  appointment,  Gilbert  Tennent  and 
and  the  Synod  having  taken  the  matter  Samuel  Davies  were  sent  on  the  embassy 
into  consideration,  they  do  unanimously  by  authority  of  the  Synod,  and  their  efforts 
approve  the  motion,  and  earnestly  recom-  met  with  signal  success.  "  The  Institu- 
mend  it  to  all  the  Presbyteries  to  see  that  tion,'\says  President  Finle}',  "was  hon- 
every  one  of  their  members  do  endeavor  ored  beyond  the  most  sanguine  expecta. 
to  collect  money  in  their  respective  con-  tions,  with  the  approbation  and  liberality 
gregations  for  that  purjiose,  and  also  in  of  several  political  and  ecclesiastical  bo- 
vacancies  where  they  have  opportunity  to  dies,  and  of  many  private  persons  of  the 
do  so;  and  the  Synod  order  that  all  other  nobility  and  gentry  among  the  laity  and 
public   collections,  before    appointed  by  clergy  of  the  various  denominations." 


CHAKACTER    OF   MES.    BURE.  191 

conversed.  Her  genius  was  more*  than  common. 
Slie  had  a  lively  imagination,  a  quick  and  pene- 
trating discernment,  and  a  good  judgment.  She  pos- 
sessed an  uncommon  degree  of  wit  and  vivacity,  which 
yet  was  consistent  with  pleasantness  and  good  nature ; 
and  she  knew  how  to  be  facetious  and  sportive,  with- 
out trespassing  on  the  bounds  of  decorum  or  of  strict 
and  serious  religion.  In  short,  she  seemed  formed  to 
please,  especially  to  please  one  of  Mr.  Burr's  taste  and 
character,  in  whom  he  Avas  exceedingly  ha2')py.  But 
what  crowned  all  her  excellences,  and  was  her  chief 
glory,  was  religion.  She  appeared  to  be  the  subject 
of  divine  impressions  when  seven  or  eight  years  old, 
and  she  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  when 
about  fifteen."  "Her" religion  did  not  cast  a  gloom 
over  her  mind,  but  made  her  cheerful  and  happy,  and 
rendered  the  thought  of  death  transporting."*  Tlie 
strength  and  l)eauty  of  her  mind,  her  tenderness 
and  warmth  of  affection ;  above  all,  the  po^ver  and 
grandeur  of  her  piety,  are  remarkably  exemplified  in 
the  letters  which  she  wrote  to  her  parents  and  other 
friends,  when  adversity  had  at  length  rolled  all  its  bil- 
lows over  her,  and  little  remained  this  side  of  the  toml), 
on  which  to  fix  a  hope.  They  are  j^ublished  in  the 
memoir  of  her  honored  father, f  and  are  among  the 
sweetest  morsels  in  that  eminently  instructive  book. 

It  has  been  mentioned  as  a  mark  of  eccentricity  in 
Mr.  Burr,  J  but  should  probajjly  be  set  to  the  account 

*  Edwards'  Life.    Works,  vol.  i,  p.  581.        +  In  the  Life  of  CoL  Burr,  by  Matthew 

+  Edwards' Life.    Works,  vol.  i,  pp.  565-    L.   Davis,   I  find  the  following  remark: 

573.  "President  Burr  was  alike  celebrated  for 


192 


buke's  makeiage. 


of  his  very  many»aiicl  very  urgent  engagements,  that, 
after  the  preliminaries  of  the  marriage  had  been  set- 
tled, the  bride  was  sent  for  with  lier  mother  to  come 
to  Newark,  and  the  wedding  took  place  here  amidst  the 
scenes  of  her  future  usefulness."* 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Burr,  we  find  very  little 
in  the  Town  Kecords  which  relates  to  the  affairs  of 


his  eloquence  and  piety,  but  withal  he 
possessed  no  inconsiderable  degree  of  ec- 
centricitj-."  On  what  this  remark  is 
founded,  besides  the  marriage  which  the 
writer  proceeds  to  mention  and  describe,  I 
do  not  know.  It  is  contrary  to  all  the 
contemporary  testimony  which  I  have 
seen.  Indeed,  it  is  affirmed  by  tradition, 
as  a  remark  of  one  who  knew  them  both, 
"that  Mr.  B.  possessed  all  the  personal 
accomplishments  of  his  son,  without  his 
vices." 

*  The  proceeding  is  very  pleasantlj'  de, 
scribed  in  a  letter  from  one  of  his  pupils- 
which,  though  somewhat  humorous,  I 
venture  to  transcribe  in  this  connexion: 

Newark,  6th  July,  1752. 

Dear  and  Honored  Sir — The  best  piece 
of  news  I  have  now  to  furnish  you  with,  is 
the  marriage  of  our  President,  as  this 
must  come  very  unexpected  to  you.  I 
shall  give  you  an  account  of  his  proceed- 
ings, as  brief  as  they  were  themselves.  In 
the  latter  end  of  May,  he  took  a  journey 
into  New  England,  and  during  his  absence 
he  made  a  visit  of  but  three  days  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Edwards'  daughter,  at  Stock- 
bridge  ;  in  which  short  time,  though  he 
had  no  acquaintance  with,  nor  indeed  ever 
seen  the  lady  these  six  years,  I  suppose  he 
accomplished  his  whole  design  ;  for  it  was 
not  above  a  fortnight  after  his  return  herci 
before  he  sent  a  young  fellow,  who  came 
out  of  College  last  fall,  into  New  England, 
to  conduct  her  and  her  mother  down 
here. 

They  came  to  town  on  Saturday  eve- 
ning, the  li7th  ult.,  and  on  the  Monday 
evening  following,  the  nuptial  ceremonies 
were  celebrated  between  Mr.  Burr  and  the 


young  lady.  As  I  have  yet  no  manner  of 
acquaintance  with  her,  I  can  not  describe 
to  you  her  qualifications  and  properties  ; 
however,  they  say  she  is  a  very  valuable 
lady.  I  think  her  a  person  of  great  beauty, 
though  I  must  say  that  in  my  opinion  she 
is  rather  too  young  (being  only  twenty-one 
years  of  age,)  for  the  President.  This  ac- 
count you'll  doubtless  communicate  to 
mammy,  as  I  know  she  has  Mr.  Burr's 
happiness    much   at  heart.      I   conclude 

with  my  love  and  duty  to  her,  love  to 

,  &c.,  Ac,  and  am  with  due  esteem. 

Your  very  dutiful 

and  affectionate  son, 

J.  Shippen,  Jr. 
N.  B. — Mr.  Burr  was  in  his  thirty-sev- 
enth year. 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  addressed  to  his 
mother,  and  dated  Newark,  1st  August, 
1752,  this  same  young  gentleman,  having 
at  length  fjrmed  his  opinion  on  the  impor- 
tant question,  expresses  himself  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  I  can't  omit  acquainting  you  that  our 
President  enjoys  all  the  happiness  the 
married  state  can  afford.  I  am  sure, 
when  he  was  in  the  condition  of  celibacy, 
the  pleasure  of  his  life  bore  no  comparison 
to  that  he  now  possesses.  From  the  little 
acquaintance  I  have  with  his  lady,  I  think 
her  a  woman  of  very  good  sense,  of  a 
genteel  and  virtuous  education,  amiable 
in  her  person,  of  great  atl'ability  and 
agreeableness  in  conversation,  and  a  very 
excellent  economist.  These  qualifications 
may  help  you  to  frame  some  idea  of  the 
person  who  lives  in  the  sincerest  mutual 
affections  with  Mr.  Burr." 


TRUSTEES  INCORPORATED.  193 

tliis  congregation.  Tlie  process  of  separation,  between 
civil  and  parocliial  affairs,  had  been  going  on  gradually 
for  many  years.  Thougli  the  salary  of  the  present  min- 
ister had  been  voted  in  a  town  meeting ;  and  the  town, 
as  such,  were  obligated  nominally  for  its  payment,  yet, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  paid,  like  that  of  several  of 
liis  predecessors,  by  those  only  who  became  specially 
obligated.  A  distinct  set  of  assessors  and  collectors 
were  always  appointed  for  this  rate ;  and  the  appoint- 
ment, during  all  this  period,  was  made  at  a  distinct 
meeting,  called  especially,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  for 
that  purpose.  Meanwhile,  three  new  congregations 
had  been  formed  within  the  town  limits.  That  at  the 
Mountain  had  long  sustained  a  minister  of  its  own ;  and 
the  Episcopal  Church,  already  incorjDorated,  had  been 
gradually  gaining  strength,  till  it  had  now  completed 
a  house  of  worship,  and  had  a  missionary  constantly 
employed  in  its  service.  In  these  circumstances,  it 
was  thought  desirable  to  complete  the  separation  be- 
tween civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  by  securing  for 
this  congregation  a  distinct  corporate  existence.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  Tth  of  June,  in  the  year  IT 5 3,  during 
the  administration  and  under  the  favor  of  Governor 
Belcher,  to  whose  kind  regards  the  Presbyterians  in 
this  region  were  much  indebted,  a  charter  was  obtained 
for  that  purjDose.  It  is  headed,  "  George  the  Second, 
by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and 
Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Faith ;"  and,  premising 
that  "  the  advancement  of  true  religion  and  virtue  is 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  promotion  of  the  peace, 
order  and  prosperity  of  the  State,"  and  that  "  it  is  the 

13 


194  TEUSTEES  ESrCOEPOEATED. 

duty  of  all  Christian  Princes  and  Governments,  by  the 
law  of  God,  to  do  all  they  can  for  the  encouragement 
thereof  ;"  with  allusions  to  "  the  known  loyalty  of  the 
petitioners,  and  of  the  Presbyterians  in  general  to  us — 
their  firm  affection  to  our  person  and  Government,  and 
the  Protestant  succession  in  our  Royal  House ;"  and, 
taking  care  of  course  to  assert,  distinctly  and  repeat- 
edly, that  it  is  all  "of  our  especial  grace,  certain 
knowledge,  and  mere  motion,"  proceeds  to  constitute  a 
body  of  seven  named  individuals  into  "  one  body  po- 
litic and  corporate,  in  deed,  fact  and  name,  by  the 
name  of  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Newark."  The  names  of  the  original  Trustees  were 
Christopher  Wood,  John  Crane,  Nathaniel  Camp,  Jo- 
seph Camp,  Jonathan  Sergeant,  Joseph  Riggs  and  Is- 
rael Crane.  The  Minister  or  Ministers,  Elders  and 
Deacons  of  the  Church  for  the  time  beini^,  or  the 
majority  of  them,  are  empowered  to  dis23lace  any  Trus- 
tee, and  to  fill  all  vacancies  that  may  from  time  to  time 
occur,  by  electing  to  that  office  suitable  j^ersons  out  of 
the  congregation.  This  charter  modified,  as  we  shall 
see  presently,  in  its  practical  02:)eration,  is  tlie  same  un- 
der which  the  congregation  holds  its  corporate  exist- 
ence and  privileges  to  the  present  day. 

The  peculiar  position  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
during  this  period  has  already  been  noticed.  As  Mr. 
Burr  was  a  young  man  when  the  measures  which  led 
to  the  division  took  place,  he  seems  to  have  taken  no 
prominent  2:)art  in  them.  The  first  significant  notice 
of  him  in  the  records  of  the  Synod,  is  his  being- 
selected,  in  tlie  year  1743,  as  tlie  messenger  to  bear 


COUESE  OF  THE  SYNOD  OF  NEW  YOEK.      195 

the  last  overtures  of  restoration  to  the  ejected  breth- 
ren *  Immediately  on  the  consummation  of  the  sepa- 
ration, and  the  organization  of  the  new  Synod,  the 
brethren  of  the  "  new  side"  began  to  address  them- 
selves with  great  vigor  to  their  appropriate  work. 
Without  wasting  their  strength  in  fruitless  recrimina- 
tions, they  took  measures  to  make  their  own  influence 
as  strong  and  effective  as  possible  for  their  Master's 
service.  We  have  already  noticed  the  establishment 
of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  as  one  of  the  early  fruits 
of  these  noble  efforts.  Their  missionary  operations, 
both  in  the  new  settlements  and  among  the  aborigines, 
were  prosecuted  with  untiring  vigor.  And  though 
their  brethren  of  the  "  old  side,"  anxious  to  free  them- 
selves from  all  susj)icion  of  participation  in  their  ag- 
gressive movements,  assured  the  Governor  of  Virginia, 
who  complained  of  their  missionaries,  for  "  reddling  our 
excellent  liturgy,"  and  "  railing  against  our  religious  es- 
tablishment," that  "these  persons  never  belonged  to 
our  body,  but  are  missionaries  sent  out  by  some  who 
by  reason  of  their  divisive  and  uncharitable  doctrines 
and  practices,  were,  in  May,  1741,  excluded  from  our 
Synod ;"  and  taking  the  advantage  of  prejudices  known 
to  exist  against  them  in  some  parts  of  New  England, 
adroitly  intimated  to  President  Clap,  of  Yale  College, 
that  the  brethren  of  the  New  York  Presbytery  had 
been  influenced  by  their  party  preferences,  "to  join  in 
encouraging  some  of  your  disorderly  scholai's,f  which 
we  are  far  from  vindicating ;"   yet  by  a  steady  adlier- 

*  Minutes,  p.  1G6.  fo  here.    See  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of 

+  David  Brainerd  is  probably  referred    Philadclpbi^,  p.  187. 


196  PROSPERITY  OF  THE  SYNOD  OF  NEW  YORK. 

ence  to  their  settled  policy  of  minding  tlieir  Master's 
work,  by  extending  the  bounds  of  His  kingdom,  and 
winning  souls  to  Him,  the  new  Synod  secured  the  sym- 
pathy and  warm  co-operation,  not  only  of  such  men  as 
Jonathan  Edwards  in  New  England,  and  Dr.  Dod- 
dridge in  the  Old  Country,  but  also  of  the  General  As- 
sembly and  other  Presbyterian  bodies  in  Scotland  and 
Ireland.  Towards  their  brethren  of  the  "  old  side," 
all  theii*  intercourse  was  confined  to  overtures  of  con- 
ciliation and  re-union ;  and  while  they  steadfastly  ad- 
hered to  theii'  determination  to  consent  to  no  terms 
which  did  not  distinctly  disavow  or  rescind  the  un- 
righteous protest^  as  they  regarded  it,  by  which  a  por- 
tion of  theii*  number  were  excluded  from  that  body, 
they  did  not  cease,  from  the  first  moment  to  the  last, 
notwithstanding  some  very  irritating  rebufis,  to  hold 
out  the  olive  branch  of  peace. 

The  result  was,  that  dm-ing  the  period  of  the  sepa- 
ration, the  prosperity  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  far 
exceeded  that  of  its  elder  sister  of  Philadelphia. 
While  the  latter  remained  nearly  stationary,  the  for- 
mer rapidly  extended  itself;  so  that  in  1753  they  could 
speak  of  a  great  number  of  congregations  which  had  put 
themselves  under  their  care  in  New  York,  New  Jersej', 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina, 
besides  large  settlements  both  in  North  and  South  Car- 
olina, where  numerous  congregations  were  in  process 
of  formation  under  their  auspices."^"  Nor  was  the  effort 
for  re-union,  hopeless  as  it  seemed  for  a  long  period, 

*  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  New  York,  p.  255,  note. 


MR.  burr's  INTLUENCE  IN  THE  SYNOD.  19t 

ultimately  frustrated.  Times  clianged,  and  some  of 
tlie  men  clianged;  and  party  spirit  being  allayed, 
measures  began  to  l)e  seen  on  both  sides  in  their  true 
light ;  the  offensive  protest  was  disowned  by  the  party 
that  had  acted  upon  it,  and  the  two  Synods  came  to- 
gether under  the  most  favorable  prospects  in  the  year 
IT 5 8,  seventeen  years  after  the  ejection  of  the  New 
Brunswick  Presbytery  and  thirteen  years  after  the 
formation  of  the  Synod  of  New  York. 

The  history  of  the  proceedure  of  this  Synod  and  its 
results  is  a  worthy  example,  for  all  time  of  the  sj)irit 
and  action  to  be  maintained  in  seasons  of  division  be- 
tween brethren,  especially  for  those  who  deem  them- 
selves the  aggrieved  party.  The  history  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  scarcely  furnishes  a  brighter  specimen 
of  Christian  zeal,  evangelical  fervor,  practical  wisdom, 
mild  and  charitable  firmness,  and  ecclesiastical  pros- 
perity than  is  presented  by  this  same  New  Side  Church, 
during  the  thirteen  years  of  its  separate  organization. 

In  the  measures  proposed  by  this  body,  Mr.  Burr 
exercised  a  prominent  influence.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Dickinson,  which  occurred  in  the  earliest  part  of 
this  period,  he  might  perhaps  be  regarded  as  its  leader ; 
if  leaders  could  be  spoken  of  in  a  body,  whose  general 
average  of  ability  and  influence  was  so  high.  It  may 
be  regarded  as  an  indication  of  his  position  and  of  the 
relative  importance  of  his  congregation,  owing  chiefly 
however  to  the  presence  of  the  college  here,  that, 
during  the  period  of  seven  years,  from  September, 
1750,  to  1757,  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod  con- 
vened in  Newark  five  times ;  and  at  one  of  the  two 


198  SECULAR   PEOSPEEITY  OF  NEWAEK. 

remaining  meetings  of  tliat  body,  Mr.  Burr  presided 
over  it  as  its  moderator.  In  efforts  for  tlie  reunion  of 
tlie  Church,  he  was  particularly  active,  though  he  died 
just  before  its  actual  accomplishment. 

Dming  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Burr,  the  secular  pros- 
perity of  the  town  of  Newark  was  beyond  all  former 
precedent.  Every  branch  of  industry,  trade,  manufac- 
tures, and  agriculture,  received  a  new  impulse.  The 
po]3ulation  increased  in  numbers,  and  advanced  in 
wealth  and  respectability.*  The  presence  of  a  flour- 
ishing Latin  school  and  of  a  college,  increasing  yearly  in 
importance,  and  sending  forth  graduates  to  the  num- 
ber of  fifteen  or  twenty  in  a  year,  must  have  made  it 
a  literary  centre  for  the  whole  region,  and  given  a  j^ow- 
erful  spring  to  intellectual  cultivation.  Few  men  could 
have  carried  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  such  cir- 
cumstances, amidst  so  many  cares,  without  serious  det- 
riment to  the  sj)iritual  interests  of  the  congregation. 
But  Mr.  Burr  was  a  man  of  uncommon  powers  and 
uncommon  devotion  and  activity ;  and  though  it  can 
hardly  be  supposed  that  during  the  latter  period  of  his 
ministry,  the  spiritual  imj)rovement  of  the  people  ad- 
vanced proportionably  to  their  external  prosj^erity, 
we  hear  no  complaints  of  any  neglect  of  their  souls' 
interests  on  his  part ;  and  their  attachment  to  him  re- 
mained to  the  last  unabated. 

But  the  very  causes  to  which  they  owed  their 
elevation,  were,  all  this  while,  preparing  for  them 
a  bitter  disappointment.     The  College  seems  never  to 

*  Manuscript  History  by  Dr.  Macwhorter. 


>'>a 


MR.  BUER'S  DISMISSION.  199 

liave  been  regarded  as  located  i^ermauently  in  Newark. 
As  early  as  the  year  1751,  a  proposition  was  enter- 
tained for  its  removal  to  Princeton.     Then,  shortly 
after,  overtures  were  made  from  the  people  of  New 
Brunswick  to  have  it  established  there.     But  various 
obstacles  and  delays  interposed,  till  at  length,  Prince- 
ton having  been  fixed  upon  as  the  place  of  j^ermanent 
location,  buildings  were  erected,  and  the  institution 
was  removed  in  the  autumn  of  1756.""'     A  year  earlier, 
Mr.  Burr  had   resigned  his  pastoral  charge,  finding 
its  duties  incompatible  with   the  increasing  cares  of 
his  office  as  President.     It  was  a  severe  stroke  to  the 
people.     The  opposition  w^as  earnest,  and  the  disputes 
bitter.     It  was  alleged  on  the  one  side,  that  the  rela- 
tion between  pastor  and  peoj^le  was  as  inviolable  as 
the  marriage  covenant,   and  on  the  other,   that  the 
greatest  usefulness  to  the  cause  of  Christ  generally, 
must  always  determine  whether  or  not  it  should  be 
continued.     But  the  result  was,  that  the  candid  and 
judicious  part  of  the  congregation  becoming  satisfied 
that  the  proposed  measure  was  right,  however  afflictive 
to  them,  gave  their  consent.f    And  thus  ended  a  min- 
istry which,  for  spiritual  and  temporal  results  com- 
liined,  has  certainly  no  superior  in  the  whole  history 
of  this  favored  congregation.     The  entire  period  of  Mr. 
Burr's  residence  in  Newark,   including  his   candidacy, 
was  twenty  years,  during  eighteen  of  which  he  was 
the  regularly  installed  pastor  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  Burr  was  small  in  stature,  and  of  a  delicate 

■'*  Dr.  Green's  Discourses,  note,  p.  507.    t  Century  Sermon  bj  Dr.  Macwhorter,  p.  2. 


200  CHAEACTEE  OF  PEESIDENT  BUEE. 

frame,  but  was  capable  of  great  effort.  "  To  encounter 
fatigue,"  says  Governor  Livingston,  "be  bad  a  beart 
of  steel,  and  for  tbe  disj^atcb  of  business  tbe  most 
amazing  talents."  "  As  long  as  an  enterj)rise  appeared 
not  absolutely  impossible,  be  knew  no  discouragement; 
but  in  proportion  to  its  difficulty,  augmented  bis  dili- 
gence, and  by  an  insuperable  fortitude,  frequently 
accomplisbed  wbat  bis  friends  and  acquaintances 
deemed  utterly  impossible."* 

In  bis  private  intercourse,  be  was  modest,  easy, 
courteous  and  obliging.  Affable  in  conversation,  can- 
did in  bis  friendsbip  towards  good  men  of  all  classes 
and  denominations — "a  perfect  master  of  tbe  art  of 
pleasing  in  company"f — bis  presence  tbrew  a  cbarm 
over  every  social  circle.  Perfectly  free  from  all 
pedantry,  bis  learning  would  scarcely  be  suspected 
unless  a  special  occasion  called  it  fortb,  and  wben  it 
did,  "  every  one  was  astonished  bow  a  person  so  im- 
mersed in  books  bad  acquired  so  large  a  sbare  of  ease 
in  converse  and  freedom  of  bebavior."  "  In  bim  every- 
thing was  agreable,  because  every  tbing  was  natural, 
and  be  bad  tbe  secret  to  be  intimately  familiar  with- 
out degrading  tbe  dignity  of  bis  bigb  function.  At 
proper  times  be  would  indulge  moderately  in  bumor, 
and  render  bimself  innocently  facetious,  tbougb  be  sel- 
dom aimed  at  wit,  and  there  was  a  mild  dignity  in  all 
his  deportment."  "  As  he  had  not  studied  the  philoso- 
phers without  sacrificing  to  the  graces,  so  neither  in 

*  Funeral  Eulogium,  p.  8.    The  Rev.  skill  and  amazing  dispatch  manage  a  va- 

Caleb  Smith  bears  the  same  testimony,  riety  of  affairs-"    See  Funeral  Sermon. 

"He  had  a  genius  wonderfully  adapted  to  +  Rev.  Caleb  Smith's  Funeral  Sermon, 
the  busy,  scenes  of  life,  and  could  with 


CHARACTER  OF  PRESIDENT  BURR.  201 

the  sallies  of  humor  did  he  ever  forget  the  character 
of  a  divine."  "  His  open,  lienevolent,  and  undissem- 
bling  heart  inspired  all  around  him  with  innocent 
cheerfulness,  and  made  every  one  who  knew  him  court 
his  engaging  society."* 

With  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  he  was  a  special 
favorite,  occu]3ying  the  highest  place  in  their  respect 
and  aifection.  He  took  a  peculiar  interest  in  young 
candidates  for  the  sacred  office,  and  so  high  was  the 
general  estimation  of  his  judgmeait  in  this  particular, 
that  vacant  churches  were  accustomed  to  apply  to  him 
from  a  great  distance  to  direct  them  in  the  selection  of 
their  pastors.  His  acquaintances  were  numerous,  and 
his  correspondence  extensive,  both  in  this  country  and 
in  Europe.  Firm  and  steady  to  his  principles,  he  was 
yet  eminently  free  from  exclusiveness  and  bigotry. 
"He  prized  religion  as  an  inestimable  jewel,  whose 
real  value  was  neither  enhanced  nor  diminished  by  the 
casket  in  which  it  was  deposited.  Hence  he  loved  and 
revered  the  sincere  and  exemj)lary  of  every  communion, 
and  particularly  cultivated  a  strict  correspondence 
with  several  of  the  greatest  ornaments  of  the  church 
established  in  England,  who  in  their  turn  treated  him 
with  the  highest  affection  and  respect."f 

Temperate  even  to  abstemiousness,  he  was  a  lover 
of  hospitality ;  and  possessing  ampler  means  than  most 
of  his  brethren,  he  distinguished  himself  as  a  bountiful 
giver; 

Both  his  eulogists  agree  in  representing  him  as  a 

*  Livingston's  Eulogium,  p.  7.     Rev.        t  Livingston's  Eulogium,  p.  10.     See 
Caleb  Smith's  Funeral  Sermon.  also  Funeral  Sermon  by  Rev.  C.  Smith. 


202  CHAEA.CTER  OF  PRESIDENT  BUER. 

judicious  aad  warm  hearted  patriot.  "  Amidst  all  the 
cares  of  his  academical  fmictions,"  says  Governor  Liv- 
ingston, "he  thought,  and  studied,  and  toiled,  and 
planned  for  the  common  weal.  He  had  a  high  sense 
of  English  liberty,  and  detested  despotic  power  as  the 
bane  of  human  happiness.  With  him  the  heresy  of 
Arius  was  not  more  fatal  to  the  purity  of  the  Gospel 
than  the  positions  of  Filmar  to  the  dignity  of  man  or 
the  repose  of  States.  Of  our  excellent  constitution  he 
entertained  the  justest  idea,  and  gloried  in  the  privi- 
leges of  a  Briton  as  much  as  he  lamented  their  prosti- 
tution and  abuse.  If  any  thing  ever  ruffled  the  seren- 
ity of  his  mind  besides  the  prevalence  of  vice,  it  was 
the  adverse  fortunes  and  disastrous  situation  of  his 
country."  Mr.  Smith  observes  that  "  he  had  much  of 
that  patriotic  spirit  wliich  is  ornamental  even  to  a 
Christian  minister,"  but  that  from  prudential  motives 
he  "  very  cautiously  intermeddled  in  any  matters  of  a 
political  nature."  He  speaks  of  him  as  a  great  friend 
of  liberty,  civil  and  religious. 

As  a  correspondent  of  the  Society  in  Scotland  for 
2:)ropagatiug  Christian  knowledge,  he  used  his  influence 
with  great  assiduity  for  the  instruction  of  the  heathen 
aborigenes,  "  and  thought  no  labor,  no  difficulty  too 
great  in  the  prosecution  of  so  important  an  enterprise." 

Notwithstanding  his  great  fondness  for  classical 
studies,  and  the  various  miscellaneous  avocations  into 
which  .his  relations  to  the  College  necessarily  led  him, 
Mr.  Burr  attained  to  no  inconsiderable  eminence  as  a 
theologian.  "His  human  literature,"  says  his  distin- 
guished eulogist,  "like  an  obsequious  handmaid,  was 


CHARACTER  OF  PRESIDENT  BURR. 


203 


ever  ready  to  set  off  and  embellish  his  mistress, 
divinity."  "  He  was  greatly  a  master,"  says  another, 
"  of  systematical,  casuistical  and  practical  divinity,  and 
he  understood  polemical,  but  cared  not  much  to  wield 
the  sword  of  religious  controversy."*  The  Bible  he 
read  by  turns,  both  as  a  critic  and  for  purposes  of  de- 
votion. 

"  In  the  pulpit  he  verily  shone  out  as  a  star  of  the 
first  magnitude."  "He  was  fluent,  copious,  sublime  and 
2)ersuasive."  "His  language  was  intelligible  to  the 
meanest  capacity,  and  above  the  censure  of  the  greatest 
genius.  His  invention  was  not  so  proj)erly  fruitful  as 
inexhaustible,  and  his  eloquence  equal  to  his  ideas."f 
When  his  leisure  would  allow,  he  generally  wrote  out 


*  The  writer  has  now  iu  his  possession 
a  specimen  of  his  manner  and  ability  in 
controversial  divinity,  viz.,  a  pamphlet  of 
sixty  closely  printed  pages,  entitled,  "  The 
Supreme  Deity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
maintained  in  a  letter  to  the  dedicator  of 
Mr.  Emlyn's  '  Inquiry  into  the  Scripture 
account  of  Jesus  Christ,'  inscribed  to  the 
Reverend  Clergy  of  all  denominations  in 
New  England ;  wherein  Mr.  Emlyn's  ob- 
jections are  fairly  answered,  and  shewn 
to  have  no  validity.  By  the  late  Reverend 
Aaron  Burr,  President  of  the  College  of 
Xew  Jersey. 

"JoHxi:  1.  In  the  beginning  was  the 
word — and  the  word  was  God. 

"  John  xx:  28.  And  Thomas  said  unto 
Him,  My  Lord  and  my  God. 

"JoH.viii:  IG.  Hereby  perceive  we  the 
love  of  God— because  He  laid  His  life  for 
us. 

"John  t:  20.  Jesus  Christ.  This  is 
the  true  God  and  eternal  life. 

"  Boston  :  reprinted,  Edward  E.  Powers, 
in  Court  street,     imcccxci." 

The  advertisement  of  this  reprint  in- 
forms us  that  "  the  following  pamphlet  was 
occasioned  by  the  re-publicatioa  of  Mr. 


Emlyn's  Inquiry  with  a  dedication  '  to 
the  Clergy  of  all  denominations,'  about 
thirty  years  since  in  this  town,  [Boston.  ] 
No  reply  was  then  made  to  it,  and  the 
controversy  ended  for  a  time.  It  is  re- 
published now  with  the  hope  that  it  may 
be  attended  with  similar  consequences. 
Extracts  from  Mr.  Emlyn's  Inquiry  were 
printed  here  some  time  since ;  and  it  was 
doubted  by  the  friends  of  the  doctrine 
of  Christ's  real  Divinity,  whether  it  was 
best  to  make  anj^  reply  to  a  book  which 
has  been  so  often  answered.  Their  doubts 
upon  this  subject  and  their  disinclination 
to  revive  a  controversy  generally  pursued 
with  too  much  warmth  and  bitterness 
have  retarded  this  publication. — The  es- 
tablished character  of  the  author  will  ren- 
der any  commendations  of  the  work  un- 
necessary, and  a  perusal  of  it  will  we 
doubt  not  give  pleasure  to  every  candid 
reader." 

Of  the  character  of  this  pamphlet  it  is 
just  to  say,  that  it  is  as  gentlemanly  and 
christian  iu  its  tone,  as  it  is  cogent  in  ar- 
gument. 

t  Funeral  Eulogium  by  Governor  Liv- 
ingston. 


204  CHAEACTER  OF  PEESIDENT  BUER. 

liis  discourses  at  large,  but  lie  had  a  remarkable  talent 
for  extemporaneous  preacliing.  Samuel  Da^des,  wlio 
heard  him  preach  a  valedictory  sermon  to  the  candi- 
dates for  the  first  degree  in  the  College,  from  the  text, 
"  Now  my  son,  the  Lord  be  with  thee,  and  prosper 
thee,"  says,  he  "  was  amazed  to  see  how  readily  good 
sense  and  accurate  language  flowed  from  him  extem- 
pore." "  His  sermon,"  he  adds,  "  was  very  affecting  to 
me,  and  might  have  been  so  to  the  students."^'  In  his 
gestures  he  was  easy  and  natural,  and  there  was  an  air 
of  mild  gravity  and  genuine  benignity  in  his  aspect. 
His  voice  w^as  clear  and  musical,  his  matter  solid,  and 
liis  skill  in  finding  and  entering  the  avenues  of  the 
heart  seldom  surpassed.  Pungent  and  searching  in  his 
application  of  truth,  he  was  yet  in  an  eminent  degree 
soothing  and  consolatory,  and  it  was  only  when  he 
saw  the  sinful  soul  humbled  and  penitent  before  God 
that  he  turned  to  ex]3atiate  uj)on  the  riches  of  redeem- 
ing love  and  presented  the  free  offer  of  salvation  from 
the  cross  of  Christ. 

"  What  he  preached  in  the  pulpit  he  lived  out  of  it. 
His  life  and  examj^le  were  a  comment  on  his  sermons, 
and  his  engaging  deportment  rendered  the  amiable 
character  of  the  Christian  still  more  attractive  and 
lovely."  "  His  piety  eclipsed  all  his  other  accom- 
plishments. He  was,"  says  his  admiring  eulogist, 
"  steady  in  his  faith,  unfluctuating  in  principle,  ardent 
in  devotion,  deaf  to  temptation,  open  to  the  motives 
of  grace,  without  pride,  without  ostentation,  full  of 

*  See  Davies'  Journal,  in  Foote's  Sketches  of  Virginia. 


CnARACTER  OF  PRESIDENT  BURR.  205 

God,  evacuated  of  self,  having  his  conversation  in 
heaven,  seeing  tlirough  the  veil  of  mortality  the  high 
destiny  of  man,  breathing  a  spiritual  life,  and  offering 
up  a  perpetual  holocaust  of  adoration  and  praise." 

His  sujDerior  character  and  accomplishments  are  thus 
summed  uji  by  the  pen  of  that  distinguished  ci\'iliau, 
from  whose  eloquent  eulogium  I  have  already  so  largely 
drawn.  "  To  have  all  the  qualifications  that  render  a 
man  amiable  or  great,  to  be  the  object  of  delight 
wherever  one  is  known,  to  possess  learning,  genius  and 
sublimity  of  soul ;  can  there  be  a  greater  blessing  to 
the  world  ?  To  exert  those  shining  endowments  for 
the  benefit  of  mankind,  and  employ  a  great  and  ele- 
vated spirit  only  in  doing  great  and  diflusive  good — 
can  a  nobler  use  be  made  of  the  happiest  talents? 
Amidst  such  striking  colors  in  so  degenerate  an  age, 
who  can  mistake  the  picture  of  the  excellent  deceased, 
whose  memory  these  pages  are  intended  to  celebrate." 
"Can  you  imagine  to  j^ourself  a  person  modest  in 
prosperity,  prudent  in  difiiculty,  in  business  indefati- 
ga])le,  magnanimous  in  danger,  easy  in  his  manners,  of 
exquisite  judgment,  of  profound  learning,  catholic  in 
sentiment,  of  the  purest  morals,  and  great  even  in  the 
minutest  things — can  you  imagine  sq  accomplished  a 
2^erson  without  recollecting  the  idea  of  the  late  Presi- 
iDENT  Burr  V 

Language  so  highly  eulogistic  may  be  supposed  to 
requii'e  some  qualification,  on  the  part  of  the  reader. 
But  the  fact  that  such  a  man  as  Li^dngston  should 
have  felt  himself  justified  in  using  it,  affords  strong 
presumption  that  it  is  not  greatly  exaggerated.     In 


206 


OHAEACTEE  OF  PEESIDENT  BUEE. 


fact  there  is  scarcely  a  sliade  of  coloring  in  the  com- 
mendation bestowed  by  it  if  we  except  the  style,  which 
is  not  fully  sustained  by  more  than  one  contemporary 
authority.  The  following  obituary  notice  taken  from 
the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  and  probably  written  by 
the  illustrious  editor  of  that  venerable  journal,  is  as 
decisive  in  its  testimony  as  it  is  terse  and  simple  in  its 
phraseology.  "Sept.  29,  lYST — Last  Saturday  died 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Aaron  Burr,  President  of  the  New 
Jersey  College,  a  gentleman  and  a  Christian,  as  univer- 
sally beloved  as  known;  an  agreeable  companion,  a 
faithful  friend,  a  tender  and  affectionate  husband,  and 
a  good  father ;  remarkable  for  his  industry,  integrity, 
strict  honesty  and  pure  undissembled  piety;  his  be- 
nevolence as  disinterested  as  unconlined ;  an  excellent 
preacher,  a  great  scholar,  and  a  very  great  man."'"' 


'■■■  Pennsylvania  Gazette  Sept.  29,  1757, 
No.  1501.  "Printed  by  B.  Franklin,  Post- 
master, and  D.  Hall,  at  the  new  printing 
office  near  the  Market." 

The  following  more  extended  obituary 
notice  rcopy  from  the  New  York  Mercury, 
where  it  appeared  Monday,  October  10th, 
1757. 

"  Nassau  Ilall,  New  Jersey,  September 
'2'jth,  1757. 

"  On  Monday  last  was  interred  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Aaron  Burr,  President  of  this  College. 
lie  died  on  the  24Ui  inst.,  in  the  41st  year 
of  his  age.  His  funeral  was  attended  by 
several  ministers,  all  the  students,  and  a 
large  number  of  the  neighboring  inhabit- 
ants. Universal  was  the  grief  on  the 
melancholy  occasion ;  and  the  loss  of  so 
valuable  a  man  ditluses  a  general  sorrow 
among  all  ranks  of  people.  lie  was  born 
at  Fairfield,  in  Connecticut,  and  descended 
from  one  of  the  most  considerable  families 
in  New  England.  His  education  he  had 
at  Yale  College,  in  New  Haven,  and  was 
reputed  one  of  the  best  scholars  in  his  class. 


He  offered  himself  to  an  examination  as  a 
candidate  for  the  Dean's  bounty,  and  was 
adjudged  worthy  to  enjoy  that  benefaction . 
Abouttheyear  1736  he  settledin  the  minis- 
try at  Newark,  and  in  his  sacred  functions 
was  equally  laborious  and  successful.  On 
the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinson,  in  the 
jcsr  1747,  he  took  upon  him  the  charge  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  which  then 
consisted  of  about  eight  students,  though 
at  the  time  of  his  death  the  number,  by 
the  blessing  of  Heaven,  on  his  unparal- 
leled industry,  was  augmented,  including 
the  grammar  school,  to  upwards  of  eighty. 
While  the  College  funds  were  insufficient 
to  support  a  president,  he  served  without 
a  salar}'  in  that  arduous  station  for  the 
space  of  three  years.  He  was  a  gentle- 
man of  great  judgment,  sagaci'y  and  era' 
dition.  In  his  temper  open,  generous* 
familiar  and  humane.  In  conversation' 
as  the  subject  required,  solemn  or  face- 
tious, and  in  both  entertaining  and  in- 
structive. Of  such  disinterested  and  dif- 
fusive benevolence,  as  even  to  conciliate 


PRESIDENT  burr's  DEATH. 


207 


The  glowing  eulogy  of  William  Livingston,  siip- 
])orted  by  tlie  plain  imvarnislied  statements  of  Caleb 
Smith,  and  endorsed  by  the  weighty  testimony  of 
Benjamin  Franklin,  seems  to  have  little  more  to  be 
desired  in  attestation  of  the  genuine  merit  of  the  sub- 
ject of  its  commendation. 

Mr.  Burr's  life  was  prolonged  only  one  year  after  he 
left  Newark.  He  never  presided  at  a  Commencement 
exercise  at  Princeton.  In  the  month  of  August,  1757, 
being  then  in  a  feeble  state  of  hfealth,  he  made  a  hasty 
visit  to  his  father-in-law,  at  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts, 
and  returning,  hastened  to  Elizabethtown  on  some  bu- 
siness with  the  Government  relating  to  the  interests  of 
the   College.      Here   he  learned   that   his    esteemed 


malice  and  repress  the  ciForts  of  detrac- 
tion. For  quickness  of  apprehension  and 
vivacity  of  spirits,  th#  admiration  of  all 
his  acqnaintancc.  A  learned  and  pro- 
found divine,  amiably  candid  in  his  reli- 
gious sentiments,  and  in  the  pulpit  fluent 
sublime  and  persuasive.  In  his  pastoral 
character,  venerable  and  serious,  but  his 
seriousness  so  far  from  gloomy  or  austere, 
discovered  a  perpetual  fund  of  that  heart  iolt 
jo\%  which  results  from  real  goodness  and 
tranquillity  of  conscience.  His  sermons, 
in  which  he  blended  imagination  with 
Judgment,  and  joined  elegance  to  solidity, 
were  wonderfully  adapted  to  reform  the 
taste,  to  mend  the  morals,  and  to  win  the 
heart.  By  his  pupils  he  was  beloved  as  a 
friend,  and  like  a  father  revered  and  hon- 
ored. In  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the 
seminary  over  which  he  presided,  he  was 
discouraged  by  no  disappointment,  but  of 
unwearied  assiduity  and  inflexible  resolu- 
tion. By  his  pious  instruction  and  exam- 
ple, his  aflectionate  addresses  and  gentle 
discipline  he  initiated  the  students  as  well 
into  the  school  of  Jesus,  as  into  the  litera- 
ture of  Greece  and  Rome,  and  enured  even 
youth  in  the  full  luxury  of  blood  to  fly  the 
infectious  world,  and  tread  the  paths  of 


virtue.  But  the  rest  of  his  accomplish- 
ments were  shaded  and  eclipsed  by  the  still 
brighter  lustre  of  his  more  resplendent 
piety.  With  an  ardent  aflection  for  his 
divine  Master,  and  an  exemplary  conform- 
ity to  the  unerring  pattern,  he  crowned 
all  his  other  amiable  qualities,  and  exalted 
the  great  man  into  the  greater  Christian. 
After  a  life  so  gloriously  spent,  well  might 
he 

" '  Even  in  the  terrors  of  expiring  bi-eath, 
WeJcoiiie  the  friendly  stroke,  and  live  in 
aea'h.' 

"In  him  the  Churches  have  lost  a  distin- 
guished divine,  the  College  a  learned  and 
faithful  head,  the  poor  a  liberal,  benefi- 
cent friend,  his  lady  the  best  of  husbands, 
and  the  commonwealth  an  incorruptible 
patriot. 

"The  Reverend  Mr.  Jonathan  Edwards 
is  chosen  to  succeed  him  in  the  president- 
ship, a  gentleman  of  whose  piety  and 
learning  the  public  has  frequently  had  (he 
amplest  attestations. 

"  Yesterday  being  the  day  of  commence- 
ment, twenty-five  of  the  students  who  had 
been  before  examined  and  approved,  were 
admitted  to  their  degrees  in  the  Arts." 


208 

friend,  the  Rev.  Caleb  Smith,  of  Newark  Mountain,  had 
just  been  bereaved  of  his  wife.  He  hastened  to  mourn 
with  and  console  him ;  and  having  no  time  to  prepare  a 
sermon,  preached  extemporaneously  a  funeral  discourse 
from  the  words,  "  Willing  rather  to  be  absent  from  the 
body  and  to  be  present  with  the  Lord."*  Still  suf- 
fering from  indisposition,  he  made  a  journey  to  Phila- 
delphia on  business  for  the  College,  in  that  sultry 
season,  and  returned  home,  exhausted  with  fatigue  and 
already  the  subject  of  an  intermittent  fever,  only  to 
meet  a  new  demand  upon  his  exertions.  His  old  friend, 
the  generous  patron  of  the  institution  over  which  he 
presided,  Governor  Belcher,  had  just  deceased,  and  he 
was  expected  to  do  honor  to  his  memory  in  a  funeral 
sermon.  "  You  will  not  think  it  strange,"  says  his  ex- 
cellent wife,  after  his  decease,  "  if  it  has  imperfections, 
when  I  tell  you  that  all  he  wrote  on  the  subject,  was 
done  in  a  part  of  one  afternoon  and  evening,  when  he 
had  a  violent  fever  on  him,  and  the  whole  night  after, 
he  was  irrational."  Completing  his  preparations,  he 
rode  forty  miles  to  ElizabethtoAvn,  and  preached  the 
discourse  before  a  vast  assembly,  on  Lord's  day,  Sept. 
4.  "  It  grieved  his  friends,"  says  Mr.  Smith,  "  to  be- 
hold the  languor  of  his  countenance,  and  observe  the 
failure  of  his  harmonious  delivery,  not  having  strength 
for  that  clear  utterance,  or  spirit  for  that  free,  lively, 
animated  address,  with  which  he  used  to  entertain  and 
charm  an  audience."     He  returned  home,  and  his  dis- 

*  In  the  Life  of  President  Edwards,  p.  that  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Smith ;  and  Mr. 
5G5,  this  service  is  spoken  of  as  having  Smith  himself  speaks  of  it  in  such  a  man- 
reference  to  a  death  in  the  family  of  his  ner  as  to  leave  no  room  for  doubt, 
successor.    But  the  date  corresponds  to 


DEATH   OF   PRESIDENT   BURR.  209 

order  soon  taking  the  form  of  a  nervous  fever,  termin- 
ated his  life  on  tlie  24th  of  September,  1757.  lie  left 
the  College  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  died  in  the 
very  midst  of  a  most  powerful  display  of  Divine  grace 
in  the  conversion  of  great  numbers  in  that  institution. 
It  was  a  fearful  stroke  to  the  whole  community. 

On  his  death-bed,  Mr.  Burr  had  given  dii*ection  that 
no  unnecessary  parade  should  be  made  at  his  funeral, 
and  no  expenses  incurred  beyond  what  Christian  de- 
cency would  require.  The  sum  ^necessary  for  the  ex- 
penses of  a  fashionable  funeral,  which  by  this  order 
would  be  saved,  he  directed  should  be  given  to  the 
j)oor,  out  of  his  estate.  His  funeral  was  attended 
amidst  a  large  concourse  of  lamenting  friends,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  at  Princeton  on  the  24th  of 
September,  1757. 

Mrs.  Burr  survived  her  husband  less  than  a  year, 
and  died  April  7,  1758.  They  left  two  children — a 
daughter  and  a  son — both  born  during  their  residence 
in  Newark,  and  both,  it  is  presumed,  baptized  within 
the  pale  of  this  Church.  The  former  was  married  to 
the  Hon.  Tappan  Reeve,  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  the 
latter,  having  obtained  almost  the  highest  rank  in  the 
nation — the  heir  of  his  father's  accomplishments,  but 
not  of  his  virtues — lies  buried  at  the  feet  of  that  illus- 
trious and  sainted  man,  where,  in  filial  reverence,  he 
had  desired  that  his  remains  should  be  deposited. 

The  tomb-stone  of  Mr.  Burr  bears  the  following  in- 
scription, which  I  copy,  with  the  translation  of  it,  from 
a  pamphlet  entitled  "  History  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  by  a  Graduate."     It  is  said  to  have  been  pre- 

14 


210  EPITAPH. 

pared  by  tlie  Hon.  William  Smith,  and  revised  by  tlie 
Rev.  Messrs.  Jacob  Green  and  Caleb  Smitli : 

M.  S. 
Reverendi  admoJum  viri, 
AARONIS  BURR,  A.  M.,  Collegii  Jfeo-Caesariensis  Praesidis, 
Natus  apud  Fairfield,  Connecticutensium,  IV  Januarii, 
A.  D.  MDCCXVI.  S.  V. 
Honesta  in  eadem  Colonia  Familia  oriundus, 
Collegio   Yalensi  innutritus, 
Novarcae    Sacris    initiatus,  MDCCXXXVIII. 
Anno  circiter  vigini  pastoral!  Munere 
Fideliter  functus, 
Collegii  N.  C.  Praesidium  MDCCXLVIII  accepit, 
In  JYcissovicB  Aulam  sub  Finem  MDCCLVI  translatus, 
Defunctus  in  hoc  vico  XXIV  Septembris, 
A.  D.  MDCCLVII.  S.  N. 
iEtatis  XLII.     Eheu  quam  brevis  ! 
Huic  Marmori  subjicitur,  quod  mori  potuit; 
Quod  immortale,  vindicarunt  Coeli — 
Quaeris   viator    qualis    quantusque    fuit  ? 
Perpaucis  accipe. 
Vir  corpore  parvo  ac  tenui, 
Studiis,  vigiliis,  assiduisque  laboribus,  macro, 
Sagacitate,  Perspicicacitate,  Agilitate, 
Ac  Solertia,  (si  fas  dicere,) 
Plusquam  humana,  pene 
Angelica. 
Anima  forme  totus. 
Omnigena    Literatura    instructus, 
Theologia  praestantior  : 
Concionator    volubilis,    suavis    et    suadus : 
Orator  facundus. 
Moribus   facilis  candidus  et  jucundus, 
Vita  egregie  libcralis  ac  benficus  : 
Supra  vero  omnia  emicuerunt 
Pietas  ac  Benevolentia. 
Sed  ah  !  quanta  et  quota  Ingenii, 
Industriac,     Prudentiae,     Patientiae, 
Caeterarumque  omnium  virtutum 
Exemplaria. 
Marmoris  Scpulchralis   Angustia  Reticebit. 
Multum  desideratus,  multum  dilectus, 
Humani  generis  Deliciae. 


EPITAPH.  211 

0  !  infandum  sui  Desiderium, 

Gemit  Ecclesia,   plorat  Academia  : 

At  Coelum  plaudit,  dum  ille 

Ingreditur 

In   Gaudium  domini   Dulce  loquentis, 

Euge  bone  et  fidelis 

Serve ! 

Abi  viator  tuam  respice  finem. 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY 

of  a  most  venerable  man, 
AARON  BURR,  A.  M.,  President  of  the  College  of  JVew 

Jersey. 

He  was  born  of  a  good  family  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  on  the  4th  of 

January,  A.  D.  1716,  0.  S. 

He  was  educated  at  Yale  College. 

Commenced  his  ministry  at  Newark,  in  1738. 

He  performed  the  pastoral  office  with  fidelity  about  20  yea,rs. 

Accepted  the  Presidency  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 

in  1748. 

Being  transferred  to  Nassau  Hall  at  the  close  of  1756, 

he  died  in  this  village,  on  the  24th  of  September, 

A.  D.  1757,  N.  S. 

Beneath  this  marble  is  laid,  all  of  him  that  could  die  ; 

His  immortal  part,  H'eaven  has  claimed — 

Do  you  ask,  Stranger,  what  he  was '? 

Hear  in  a  few  words  : 

He  was  a  man  of  a  small  and  weak  body,  spare  with  study, 

watching  and  constant  labors, — 

He  had  sagacity,  penetration,  quickness  and  despatch,  (if  it  be 

lawful  to  say  so,)  more  than  human,  almost  Angelic. 

He  was  skilled  in  all  kinds  of  Learning. 

In  Theology  he  excelled. 

He  was  a  fluent  speaker,  pleasing  and  persuasive. 

An  accomplished  Orator. 

In  his  manners,  easy,  frank  and  cheerful ; 

In  his  life,    remarkably   liberal  and   beneficent. 

His  Piety  and  Benevolence  outshined  all  other  qualities. 

Ah,  how  numerous   and  how  excellent  were  his  examples  of 

Genius,  Industry,  Prudence,  Patience, 

and  all  other  virtues, — 

The  narrow  sepulchral  marble  refuses  to  speak  them. 

Greatly  regretted,  and   much  beloved,  he  was  the  delight  of 

human  kind. 
0,  the  unspeakable  regret. 


212  EEV.    JOHN   BEAINEED. 

The  Church  groans,  Learning  laments ; 

But  Heaven  applauds,  while  he 

enters  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord,  and 

hears,  well  done  good  and  faithful  servant. 

Stranger,    go    and    remember    thy    latter    end. 

Immediately  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Burr,  the 
pulpit  began  to  be  supplied  by  tlie  Kev.  Jolin  Brain- 
erd.  He  was  a  younger  brother  of  David  Brainerd, 
born  at  Haddam,  Conn.,  and  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1746.  Entering  the  ministry  about  the  time 
of  his  brother's  death,  the  patrons  of  the  mission 
turned  their  eyes  towards  him  as  the  most  suitable 
person  to  succeed  to  that  service.  The  name  of  Brain- 
erd was  already  fragrant  in  the  Church,  and  beloved 
by  the  simple  children  of  the  forest ;  and  it  was  doubt- 
less an  unspeakable  satisfaction  to  the  dying  missionary 
to  commit  his  ignorant  charge  to  the  care  of  one  in 
whom  he  had  the  fullest  confidence,  and  loved,  as  his 
own  lips  testified  in  death,  "  the  best  of  any  creature 
living."* 

John  Brainerd  continued  in  this  service  with  little 
or  no  interruption  until  about  the  year  1755,  when  the 
occurrence  of  a  war  with  France,  making  intercourse 
with  the  savages  dangerous  and  difiicult,  induced  the 
"  correspondents"  to  suspend  the  mission ;  and,  the 
health  of  Mrs.  Brainerd  being  then  very  infirm,  he 
was  dismissed  from  his  charge,  and  removed  with  his 
family  to  Newark.  Whether  he  was  formally  in- 
stalled as  the  pastor  of  this  Church,  and,  if  so,  at  what 
precise  time,  may  be  difficult  to  determine  with  cer- 

*   Memoirs  of    Brainerd.     (Edwards' Works,  vol.  x,  p. 412.) 


EEV.    JOHN   BKAmEED.  213 

tainty ;  for  the  records  of  tlie  Cliiircli  and  Presbytery 
being  both  lost,  those  of  the  town  of  Newark,  on 
which  we  have  relied  hitherto,  do  not  cover  the  eccle- 
siastical aifairs  of  this  period.  From  those  of  the 
Synod,  and  from  other  corroborating  circumstances, 
the  most  satisfactory  conclusion  is,  that  he  took  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  almost  imme- 
diately after  he  left  the  mission.  President  Edwards 
found  him  here  in  the  autumn  of  1755,  preaching  as  a 
"  probationer  for  settlement,"  in  which  capacity  he  had 
been  employed  "  ever  since  Mr.  Burr's  dismission  from 
that  place  on  account  of  his  business  as  President  of 
the  College."*  At  a  meeting  of  the  Synod,  held  in 
Newark,  "  the  day  after  Commencement,"  in  the  au- 
tumn of  IV 56,  he  was  appointed  with  several  others 
to  supply,  for  a  few  months,  some  destitute  congrega- 
tions in  North  Carolina ;  but,  for  reasons  not  stated, 
did  not  fulfill  that  commission.  The  next  Spring  a 
commissioner  from  the  congregation  at  Newark  aj)- 
peared  in  the  Synod,  and  "  asked  for  some  su23plies  in 
their  destitute  condition,"  which  request  was  granted. 
And  as,  in  the  year  following,  viz.,  in  the  Spring  of  1758, 
it  is  on  record  that  "  the  Synod  does  appoint  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  York  to  supply  Ne^svark  during  the 
whole  of  the  time  of  Mr.  Brainerd's  absence  from 
them,"f  we  infer  that  the  destitute  condition  of  this 
Church  at  that  time  must  have  been  owing  to  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Brainerd,  on  whose  services  they  were 
regarded  as  having  a  claim,  and  for  whose  return  they 

*  Works,  Tol.  i,  pp.  553-4.    New  York  ed.,  1830.  t  Minutes,  pp.  275-283 


214  ME.  beaksteed's   eemoval. 

were  waiting  in  expectation.  The  graves  of  two  of  his 
little  children,  buried  here  the  following  autumn,  attest 
the  presence  of  his  family,  proljably  his  own,  at  that  pe- 
riod.* The  circumstances  of  his  leaving  Newark,  to  re- 
turn to  his  mission,  are  even  more  ex]3licit.  "  Mr.  Brain- 
erd  applied  to  the  Synod  for  advice,"  say  the  Minutes, 
under  date  of  May,  IT 59,  "  whether  it  was  his  duty  to 
leave  his  present  charge  at  Newark  and  resume  his 
mission  to  the  Indians."  "Arguments  on  both  sides 
were  fully  heard,"  and  the  decision  arrived  at  was,  that 
"though  he  had  a  very  comfortable  settlement  at 
Newark,  yet  the  Synod,  through  an  earnest  desire  to 
promote  the  kingdom  of  Christ  among  these  poor  In- 
dians, advised  him  to  give  up  these  temporal  advan- 
tages, and  settle  as  a  missionary  among  these  poor  In- 
dians ;"  "  with  which  advice,"  it  is  added,  "  he  readily 
and  generously  complied."  In  coming  to  this  decision 
the  Synod  declare  themselves  "  tenderly  affected  with 
the  case  of  the  Newark  congregation,"  whose  happy 
and  hopeful  settlement  seems  to  have  been  frustrated 
by  this  act  of  Christian  duty.f 

The  only  doubt  thrown  over  this  matter,  arises  from 
the  fact  that  Dr.  Macwhorter,  in  his  historical  notices, 
never  mentions  the  ministry  of  John  Brainerd ;  and 
what  is  still  more  singular,  though  the  latter  was  re- 

*  Their  tombstones,  which  were  stand-  Monumental  Inscriptions,  p.  167. 

ing  not  long  since,  bear  the  following  in-  t  Minutes  of  the  Synods  of  New  York 

scriptions :  ^ind  Philadelphia,  pp.  204-299.     It  is  add- 

" Miss  Sophia  Brainerd,  elder  daughter  ed,  under  date  of  May  18,  iToO:    "Mr. 

of  the  Rev.  John  Brainerd,  died  Sept.  8th,  Brainerd  being  removed  from  New  York, 

1758,  in  the  6th  year  of  her  age."  it  is  ordered  that  Messrs.  Woodruff,  Ket- 

"  David  Brainerd,  only  son  of  the  Rev.  tietas.  Darby  and  Cummings  supply  there 

John  Brainerd,  died  Sept.  14th,  1758,  in  each  one  Sabbath,  if  need  be." 
the  2d  year  of  his  age." 


MINISTEY   OF   ME.    BRAINEED.  215 

leased  from  liis  charge,  witli  tlie  affectionate  condolen- 
ces of  the  Synod  towards  a  bereaved  congregation,  on 
the  18th  of  May,  and  the  former  succeeded  to  the 
same  charge  in  the  month  of  June  following,  yet  the 
whole  matter  is  completely  ignored.  You  would  not 
gather  from  the  three  distinct  narratives  written  by 
Dr.  M.,  the  slightest  hint  that  John  Brainerd  ever 
spent  a  Sabbath  in  Newark.  On  the  contrary,  the 
whole  period  occupied  by  his  ministry — a  period  of 
nearly  four  years — is  represented  as  one  of  unhap2)y 
contention,  mutual  recrimination,  and  division  between 
rival  candidates.  "  Some  blamed  the  Presbytery,"  he 
says,  "  for  taking  away  their  minister ;  others  reflected 
upon  their  neighbors  for  consenting  to  his  dismission, 
and  by  one  means  and  another,  they  were  divided 
among  many  candidates,  until  their  mortifications  and 
uneasinesses  subsided  by  time,  and  they  quietly  united 
to  call  their  present  minister,  who  preached  his  fu*st 
sermon  here  June  28th,  1759."*  One  of  two  conclu- 
sions seem  inevitable.  Either  the  Minutes  of  the 
Synod  of  New  York  are  not  reliable,  or  the  historian, 
who  wrote  many  years  after  the  facts  referred  to  took 
place,  must  have  forgotten  events  of  which  he  was  al- 
most an  eye-witness  in  his  early  youth.  That  there 
was  a  close  relation  of  some  sort  between  Mr.  Brainerd 
and  this  people,  during  the  period  just  now  designated, 
cannot  be  doubted ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  difficulty 
which  I  have  stated,  my  judgment  inclines  strongly  to 
the  conclusion  that  he  was,  for  a  short  time  at  least, 

*  Century  Sermon,  p.  22. 


216  REV.   ALEXANDER  MACWHORTER. 

the  regular  pastor  of  this  Churcli.*  Mr.  Brainerd's 
ministry  was  unquestionably  a  short  one.  He  returned 
to  the  care  of  the  Indian  mission,  and  continued  in 
that  service  dui'ing  the  whole  or  nearly  all  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  In  the  year  1*754  he  was  chosen  a 
trustee  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey ;  was  moderator 
of  the  Synod  in  the  year  1Y62,  and  sustained  from 
time  to  time  important  offices  connected  with  that  body. 
He  died,  March  21,  ITSI,  at  Deerfield,  Cumberland 
county,  N.  J.,  and  "  lies  buried  under  the  middle  aisle 
of  the  old  parish  church  there,  where  he  last  minis- 
tered, and  where  a  slab  of  marble  shows  his  epitaph."f 

The  next  pastor  of  this  Church  was  the  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Macwhorter,  who  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Newcastle,  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  July  15,  1T34, 
O.  S.  His  ancestors  emigrated  from  Scotland,  and  set- 
tled in  the  North  of  Ireland,  where  both  of  his 
grand-parents  on  the  maternal  side,  perished  by  Papal 
violence  in  the  great  Irish  massacre  in  1641,  during 
the  civil  wars  of  Charles  the  First.  His  grand-mother, 
then  an  infant,  escaped  from  the  scene  of  butchery  by 
being  hid  by  her  nurse,  and  was  the  only  survivor  of 
the  entire  family.  J 

His  father,  Hugh  Macwhorter,  was  a  linen  merchant 
in  the  north  of  Ireland,  whence  he  emigrated  with  his 
family  to  America  about  the  year  1*730,  and,  settling 

*  In  this  opinion  I  do  but  concur  with  t  Letter  from  Rev.  Thomas  Bi-ainerd,  D, 

that  of  the  late  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  D.,  of  Philadelphia, 

in  the  "  Log  College,"  p.  76,  and  of  Dr.  X  See  Dr.  Griflan's    Funeral  Sermon. 

Hodge  in  his  "History  of  the  Presbyterian  "  They  were  hanged,"  says  Dr.  G.,  "on  a 

Church,"  the  latter  of  whom  expressly  tree  before  their  own  door."    See  also  Life 

calls  Mr.   Brainerd   "the  pastor  of  the  of  Dr.  Rogers,  by  Dr.  Miller. 
Church  in  Newark,"  p.  3-17. 


JSNaRAVEDBYJS.'iRTAlN. 


O^u^a/- fy/t^^^ 


.^U^l-  /^ly-L^A^^ 


EAELY   LIFE.  2lT 

in  Delaware  upon  a  large  farm,  became  an  elder  in  tlie 
Clinrcli  afterwards  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Rodgers, 
since  known  as  Dr.  Rodgers,  of  New  York.*  The  eldest 
son,  Alexander,  a  youth  of  great  promise,  both  for  talents 
and  piety,  who  had  spent  two  years  at  the  University 
of  Edinburgh,  and  had  now  nearly  completed  his  stud- 
ies for  the  ministry,  dying  a  few  years  after  the  emi- 
gration, his  name  was  transferred  to  the  youngest  son, 
who  was  born  about  the  time  of  his  brother's  death. 

"  The  first  time,"  says  Dr.  Miller,  "  that  Mr.  Rodgers, 
after  entering  on  his  pastoral  cliarge,  assembled  the 
childi'en  of  a  particular  district  in  his  congregation,  to 
catechise  them,  it  was  at  the  house  of  Hugh  Macwhor- 
ter,  a  wealthy  and  respectable  farmer  in  his  neighbor- 
hood. The  children  were  so  numerous  that  a  room  of 
ordinary  size  would  not  contain  them,  and  it  was 
thought  best  to  collect  them  in  a  spacious  barn,  on  the 
farm,  near  the  dwelling-house  of  Mr.  Macwhorter." 
Among  the  rest,  came  young  Alexander,  the  youngest 
son  of  the  worthy  elder,  to  present  himself  to  the  kind 
notice  of  his  youthful  pastor,  and  to  be  catechised  by 
him  in  that  barn.  "  The  prudence,  the  good  sense,  the 
readiness  in  reply,  and  the  highly  promising  character 
which  this  youth  exhibited,  first  drew  the  attention, 
and  afterwards  the  special  regard  and  friendship  of 
Mr.  Rodgers,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  an  affection- 
ate union  between  them  to  the  end  of  life."f 

Alexander  Macwhorter  was  the  youngest  of  eleven 
children,  and  was  trained  by  his  excellent  parents  in 

*  The  name  of   Hugh  McQuarter  ap-        t  Mem.  of  Dr.  Rogers,  p.  7],  72. 
pears  in  the  minutes  of  the  Synod  in  1738. 


218  conversio:n'  ais^d  education. 

tlie  principles  and  duties  of  piety.  It  was  tlieir  prac- 
tice to  devote  the  Sabbath  evenings  especially  to  the 
religions  instruction  of  the  children,  and  Alexander 
had  often  been  taken  alone  into  the  woods  or  into 
some  private  apartment,  to  hear  the  fervent  and  tear- 
ful entreaties,  and  join  in  the  importunate  j^rayers  of 
parental  love  and  solicitude. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he,  with  three  other  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  lived  and  died  in  the  faith  in  which 
they  had  been  nurtured,  was  left,  by  the  death  of  their 
excellent  father,  to  the  sole  care  and  training  of  their 
widowed  mother;  and  immediately  after  this,  the 
whole  family  removed  to  North  Carolina.  Here  he 
first  awoke  to  a  full  consciousness  of  his  religious 
needs,  under  the  influence  of  a  sermon  from  a  "  New 
Light"  preacher  by  the  name  of  John  Brown,  after- 
wards for  many  years  a  minister  in  Virginia,  the  theme 
of  which  was  the  second  verse  of  the  seventh  Psalm.* 
Deep  and  long  continued  were  his  convictions  of  sin 
and  his  di'ead  of  the  wrath  of  God.  "  He  used,"  says 
Dr.  Griffin,  "  daily  to  repair  to  a  copse  of  pines  near 
his  brother's  house,  where  he  resided,  and  there,  to  use 
his  own  expressive  words,  '  would  dash  himself  on  the 
ground,  looking  for  the  earth  to  open  and  swallow  him 
up.'  "  But  it  was  not  till  after  he  had  left  North  Car- 
olina and  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  his  native 
place,  in  order  to  pursue  his  education — a  period  of  two 
or  three  years — that  he  found  peace  by  believing  in 
Christ.     This  was  while  he  was  at  a  public  school  at 

*    "  If  he  turn  not,   he  will  whet  his    snord :  he  hath  bent  his  bow  and  made  it 
ready." 


ENTEANCE    ON   THE   3[INISTEY.  210 

West  Nottingliam,  Cecil  county,  INIaryland,  under  tlie 
care  of  tlie  Rev.  Samuel  Finley,  afterwards  President 
of  tlie  College  of  New  Jersey,  with  wliose  Church  he 
was  soon  after  received  into  communion. 

Mr.  Macwhorter  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
at  Newark,  in  the  year  1756,  at  the  age  of  22  years, 
joining  the  Junior  class  ;*  and,  the  College  having  been 
removed  to  Princeton  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  he 
received  his  first  degree  during  the  following  suimner, 
a  few  days  after  the  decease  of  President  Burr,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  class  that  were  graduated  in  the 
College  at  that  place.  True  to  his  filial  affections, 
young  Macwhorter  was  now  about  to  return  to  North 
Carolina,  and  take  counsel  concerning  his  future  course 
with  that  aged  parent,  to  whose  early  maternal  faith- 
fulness he  owed  so  much  of  his  character  and  promise. 
But  Jane  Macwhorter  was  no  inore ;  and  on  receiving 
the  afflicting  news  he  abandoned  the  design.  Having 
completed  his  studies  in  divinity,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent,  of  Freehold,  N.  J.,  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  then  sitting  at  Princeton,  in  the 
month  of  August,  1758. 

The  schism  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  had  just  been 
healed,  by  the  amicable  union  of  the  two  Synods  into 
one  body,  by  the  name  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia.f     At  the  second  meeting  of  this  body,  in 

*  "  Thus,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "he  began  after  the  labors  of  more  than  half  a  ceu- 

his  public  career  in  science  in  the  very  tury."     ( Funeral  Sermon,  p  11.) 

place  which  was  destined  to  be  the  scene  t  This  Synod  held  its  first  meeting  at 

of  his  future  usefulness.    The  ground  on  Philadelphia,  May  -ii,  175S,  and  Rev.  Gil- 

which  his  youthful  feet  trod  was  reserved  bert  Tennent  was  choses  as  its  first  Mod- 

to  be  the  resting  place  of  bis  weary  limbs  erator.     The  articles  of  agreement   ou 


220 


ENTRANCE   ON   THE   MINISTEY. 


May,  lYSO,  the  same  meeting  which  decided  on  Mr. 
Brainerd's  removal  from  Newark,  Messrs.  Macwhorter, 
Kirkpatrick  and  Latta  were  appointed  to  preach,  for 
several  months  each,  to  destitute  congregations  in  Vii'- 
ginia  and  North  Carolina ;  and  that  no  failure  in  the 
mission  might  take  place,  the  Synod  gave  peremptory 
orders  that  the  young  men  should  be  at  their  posts  at 
a  specified  time,  and  that  the  Presbyteries  with  which 
they  were  connected,  should  "  take  care  that  these  gen- 
tlemen fulfill  their  appointment,  and  neither  prescribe 
nor  allow  them  employment  in  our  bounds,  so  as  to 
disappoint  this,  our  good  intention."* 


which  the  union  was  formed,  are  too 
long  to  be  inserted  here,  but  deserve  care- 
ful study  in  connection  with  the  history  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  object,  as 
state  1  in  the  preamble,  was  "  the  compro- 
mising those  differences  which  were  agi- 
tated many  years  ago  with  too  much 
warmth  and  auimosit}',"  "  the  healing  of 
breach,  that  so  its  hurtful  consequences 
may  not  descend  to  posterity,"  "  that  all 
occasion  of  reproach  may  be  removed," 
that  we  may  carry  on  the  great  designs  of 
religion  to  better  advantage,  "to  prevent 
future  breaches  of  like  nature,  &c.  The 
first  and  second  articles  are  the  folllowing : 
"  I.  Both  Synods  having  always  approved 
and  received  the  Westminster  Confession 
of  Faith,  and  Larger  and  Shorter  Cate- 
chisms as  an  orthodox  and  excellent  sys- 
tem of  Christian  doctrine  founded  on  the 
Word  of  God,  we  do  still  receive  the  same 
as  the  Confession  of  our  Faith,  and  also 
adhere  to  the  plan  of  worship,  government 
and  discipline  contained  in  the  Westmin- 
ster Directory,  strictly  enjoining  it  on  all 
our  members  and  probationers  for  the  min- 
istry, that  they  preach  and  teach  accord- 
ing to  the  form  of  sound  words  in  said  Con- 
fessions and  Catechisms,  and  oppose  all 
errors  contrary  thereto." 

"II.   That  when  any  matter  is  deter- 
mined by  a  major  vote,  every  member 


shall  either  actively  concur  with,  or  pas- 
sively submit  to  such  determination  ;  or  if 
his  conscience  permit  him  to  do  neither, 
he  shall,  after  sufficient  liberty  modestly 
to  reason  and  remonstrate,  peaceably  with- 
draw from  our  communion  without  at- 
tempting to  make  any  schism  ;  provided 
always  that  this  shall  be  understood  to  ex- 
tend only  to  such  determinations  as  the 
body  shall  judge  indispensible  in  doctrine 
or  Presbyterian  worship." 

As  to  the  "protest"  of  1741,  the  Synod 
of  Philadelphia  declare  "that  they  never 
judicially  adopted  the  said  protest,  nor  do 
account  it  a  synodical  act,  but  that  it  is  to 
be  considered  as  the  act  of  those  only  who 
subscribed  it." 

To  guard  effectually  against  any  renewal 
of  hostility,  the  Synod  close  the  agree- 
ments with  the  following  item  :  "  that  all 
former  differences  and  disputes  are  laid 
aside  and  buried,  and  that  no  further  in- 
quiry or  vote  shall  be  proposed  in  this 
Synod  concerning  these  things ;  but  if 
any  member  seek  a  synodical  inquir}-, 
or  declaration  about  any  of  the  mat- 
ters of  our  past  differences,  it  shall  be 
deemed  a  censurable  breach  of  this  agree- 
ment, and  be  refused,  and  he  be  rebuked 
accordingly." — Minutes,  pp.  285-8S. 

*  Minutes,  p.  293. 


INSTALLATION    AT    NEWARK.  221 

Accordingly  Mr.  Macwhorter,  witli  his  classmate, 
Mr.  Kii'kpatrick,  was  ordained  at  Cranberry,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  July  4th  of  the  same 
year.*  But  the  ordinances  of  divine  Providence  over- 
ruled even  the  strict  and  peremptory  orders  of  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia ;  for  the  congre- 
gation in  Newark  being  now  vacant,  Mr.  Macwhorter 
was  employed  to  preach  for  them  for  a  single  Sabbath, 
and  at  once  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  him  for  the  future 
pastor.  At  the  very  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at 
which  he  received  ordination,  with  a  view  to  his  dis- 
tant mission,  commissioners  from  Newark  presented 
their  urgent  request  for  his  services,  and  Mr.  Tennent 
lending  his  influence  in  their  favor,  the  plan  of  the 
mission  was  suspended ;  and  on  the  reception  of  a 
united  call  from  the  people,  he  was  installed  during 
that  same  summer,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  as 
the  pastor  of  this  Church.f  In  the  minutes  of  the 
Synod  at  their  next  meeting,  the  only  notice  taken  of 
this  disregard  of  their  stringent  order,  is  the  very 
quiet  record  that  "  Mr.  Macwhorter's  reasons  for  not 
going  to  Virginia,  according  to  the  appointment  of  the 
Synod  last  year,  were  sustained. "J 

Mr.  Macwhorter  was  married  in  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber, 1758,  shortly  after  he  received  license  to  preach, 
to  Mary  Gumming,  daughter  of  Kobert  Gumming,  Esq., 
of  Freehold,  N.  J.,  a  respectable  merchant,  high  sheriff 
of  the  county  of  Monmouth,  and  related  by  marriage 

*  Funeral  Sermon  by  Dr.  Griffin,  p.  14.    He  preached  his  first  sermon  here,  June 
+  Minutes,  p.  293.     Funeral   Sermon.    28,  1759. 

X  Minutes,  p.  293. 


222  CONTENTION   BETWEEN    CnUECHES. 

to  the  family  of  his  revered  instructor,  Rev.  William 
Tennent."^  They  had  five  children,  viz. :  Mary,  mar- 
ried to  Samuel  Beebe,  merchant  of  New  York ;  Ann, 
married  to  Rev.  George  Ogilvie ;  Alexander  Gumming, 
counselor  at  law,  in  Newark ;  John,  counselor  at  law 
in  the  same  place,  w^ho  died  suddenly  a  few  months  be- 
fore his  father ;  and  Hugh  Robert,  who  died  in  infancy. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  violent  contentions 
which  arose  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Webb,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  introduction  of  Episcopacy  into  this 
hitherto  Puritan  community.  But  "this  pious  bustle," 
says  Dr.  Macwhorter,  "  was  not  altogether  about  reli- 
gious principles."f  Pecuniary  claims  were  also  involved 
in  it,  and  the  question,  who  were  the  rightful  owners 
of  the  Church  j^roperty,  was  the  subject  of  no  little 
jealousy  at  the  period  in  w^hich  he  commenced  his  min- 
stry. 

There  were  now  four  distinct  congregations  within 
the  limits  of  Newark,  besides  j)arts  of  others,  and  all 
of  them,  since  the  incorj)oration  of  the  Trustees  of  this 
Church,  legally  distinct  from  the  town. 

Two  of  the  new  congregations,  namely,  the  Moun- 
tain Society  and  the  Church  of  England,  as  they  were 
then  designated,  laid  claim  to  an  equal  portion  with 

*  Funeral  Sermon  by  Dr.  Griffin.    Dr.  second  marriage  with  Miss  Noble,  daugh- 

G.   adds,   "Robert  Camming,   Esq.,  was  ter  by  a  former  husband  of  Mrs.  Tennent. 

twice  married.    By  the  first  marriage  he  By  her  he  had  four  children :  the  eldest 

had  three  children ;  the  eldest  was  Alex-  was  Catharine,  married  to  the  Rev.  Philip 

auder,  who  was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  Stockton ;  the  second  was  Ann,  married 

for  several  years  m  the  city  of  New  Yorlv,  to  the  Rev.  William  Scheuck ;  the  third 

and  afterwards  in  the  Old  South  Church  was  John  Noble,  now  General  Gumming, 

in  the  town  of  Boston,  wlicre  he  died,  17<j3;  of  this  town;  and  the  fourth  was  Peggy, 

the  second  was  Lawrence;  the  third  was  who  died  unmarried." 
Mary,  (Mrs.  Macwhorter.)    He  formed  a        t  Manuscript  History. 


PAESONAGE  PEOPERTY.  223 

the  First  Cliiircli  in  the  inheritance,  which  as  they  af- 
firmed, had  descended  from  their  common  ancestors. 
The  congregation  of  the  First  Church,  on  the  contrary, 
maintained  that  they  were  the  only  rightful  and  legal 
representatives  of  the  old  Town  of  Newark,  considered 
in  its  ecclesiastical  capacity ;  and,  since  the  grant  from 
the  Projirietors,  under  which  the  land  came  into  their 
possession,  was  expressly  that  of  so  much  land  "/or 
eacli  parish^''  and  they,  being  the  only  parish  then  ex- 
isting in  the  town,  had  availed  themselves  of  its  pro- 
visions ;  and  since  the  deed,  securing  the  lands  in  the 
hands  of  trustees,  "  for  the  only  proper  use,  benefit  and 
behoof  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  town  of  Newark,"  was 
in  pursuance  of  that  grant,  those  who  continued  with 
the  old  congregation  had  the  exclusive  right  to  the 
property. 

The  process  of  sej)aration  between  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical affairs,  which  had  been  going  on  gradually  for 
more  than  half  a  century,  was  now  nearly  consum- 
mated. The  ministers  had  ceased  to  be  elected,  and 
their  salaries  to  be  voted  in  the  town  meetings ;  and 
the  town  had  virtually,  though  not  formally,  relin- 
quised  its  control  over  the  parsonage  property.  Mean- 
while, the  old  Church  had  become  incorj^orated,  with 
power  to  take  and  hold  what  were  its  just  rights  in 
its  own  name ;  and  the  original  patentees,  all  of  whom 
were  members  of  that  Church,  being  now  dead,  and 
the  heir  of  the  last  survivor  of  them  living  at  a  dis- 
tance from  Newark,  a  manifest  propriety,  not  to  say 
necessity,  had  arisen  for  making  some  new  and  more 
l^ermanent  disposition   of  the  property  in   question, 


224  PARSONAaE  PROPERTY. 

Accordingly,  by  a  concurrent  act  of  the  Town  and  the 
heir  of  the  patentees — the  only  parties  capable  of  act- 
ing in  the  matter  according  to  any  supposition — the 
title  was  vested  in  the  Trustees  of  this  Church.  "  At 
a  town  meeting  on  the  12th  of  March,  1760,  it  was 
voted  unanimously  that  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  be  authorized  to  procure  a  deed  of 
conveyance  from  David  Young,  heir-at-law  of  the  last 
surviving  patentee,  for  the  said  parsonage  lands,  in 
trust,  in  order  that  they  may  be  the  better  enabled  to 
take  care  of  the  same  for  the  said  Church,"  which  deed 
the  Trustees  lost  no  time  in  obtaining,  on  the  very  next 
day,  in  due  form  of  law. 

Now  followed  a  series  of  efforts  with  a  view  to  re- 
verse this  procedure.  The  opposing  party  came  into 
the  town  meeting,  the  year  following,  and  proposed 
resolutions  declaring  dissatisfaction  with  what  had 
been  done,  and  directing  that  the  lands  should  "  be 
equally  divided  in  quantity  and  quality"  among  the 
three  congregations ;  and,  these  resolutions  being  car- 
ried in  the  affirmative,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
divide  and  allot  the  lands  accordingly.  Four  out  of 
six  of  the  committee  proceeded  to  their  work.  But 
when  the  plan  of  division  had  been  drawn  out  with 
much  care,*  and  was  reported  to  the  town  the  next 
year,  with  the  proviso  that  four  months  should  be  al- 
lowed for  hearing  objections  before  it  should  stand  in 
force,  the  majority  rejected  it,  "even  with  the  limita- 

*  The  plan  was  drawn  by  "the  Hon.  be  "a  draught  of  an  entry  proposed  to  be 
David  Ogden,  Esq.,  at  the  request  of  made  at  a  town  meeting  held  at  Newark,' ' 
some  of  the  committee,"  and  purported  to    &c.    (See  Town  Records.) 


PAESONAGE  PEOPEETY. 


225 


tioii  above  mentioned,"  says  tlie  record,  "it  being  a 
very  full  town  meeting."* 

Meanwliile,  the  Trustees  obtained  the  oj)inions  of 
several  very  eminent  lawyers,  to  the  effect,  that  both 
by  the  vote  of  the  town  and  by  the  deed  of  convey- 
ance from  the  representative  of  the  original  patentee, 
their  title  to  the  property  was  sound ;  and,  moreover, 
that  the  present  First  Presbyterian  Church  were  the 
only  true  and  rightful  representatives  of  the  old  setr 
tiers  mentioned  in  the  original  gr^nt.f 


*  The  occasion  of  this  specific  statement 
in  the  record,  seems  to  have  been  a  dis- 
pute which  had  taken  place  between  the 
parties,  as  to  the  fairness  of  the  two  former 
votes.  Those  dissatisfied  with  the  first 
vote  alleged,  that  it  was  obtained,  "during 
the  time  of  the  small  pox  being  in  town, 
when  but  very  few  of  the  inhabitants  were 
present;"  and  their  opponents  rejoined, 
that  there  were  "at  least  two  hundred  per- 
sons present"  when  that  vote  "was  so 
unanimously" carried ;  and  "insisted upon 
it"  that  the  second  vote  "  was  not  fairly 
obtained,  a  majority  being  at  that  time  in 
the  negative."    (See  Town  Records.) 

t  Among  the  gentlemen  who  became 
responsible  for  these  opinions,  were  Wil- 
liam Livingston,  William  Smith,  William 
Smith,  junior,  John  Morin  Scot,  and  Wil- 
liam Patterson.  "  I  take  it  for  granted,'' 
says  the  gentleman  last  named,  "  that  the 
old  settlers  mentioned  in  the  letters  patent 
and  the  society  incorporated  and  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Trustees  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Newark,  are  the 
same  persons  under  different  descriptions. 
I  am  of  opinion  that  the  Trustees  hold  in 
fee  for  the  use  of  the  old  settlers  or  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  exclusion  of  all 
others.  This  is  the  specific  use'carved  out 
by  the  oi-iginal  Proprietors,  and  this  use 
must  be  religiously  observed;  they  have 
indeed  designated  the  use  and  identified 
the  persons  who  shall  take  it,  in  a  very 
clear  manner,  and  their  reasons  for  both 


are  too  obvious  to  stand  in  need  of  recital." 
It  may  be  observed  here,  that  this  opin- 
ion seems  to  coincide  very  exactly  with 
that  of  Chief  Justice  Shaw,  of  Massachu- 
setts, in  the  case  of  Heman  Stebbing  vs. 
Calvin  Jennings.  He  is  speaking  of  "the 
case  of  a  town  acting  at  the  same  time  as 
a  town  and  parish,  of  which,"  says  he, 
"there  are,  or  recently  were,  hundreds  of 
instances  in  the  Commonwealth.  In  that 
case  one  corporate  organization  is  com- 
monly used  for  both  purposes."  He  thea 
supposes  the  case  of  a  separation  for  the 
forming  of  a  new  congregation.  "After 
the  separation,"  says  he,  "all  those  rights, 
duties  and  obligations  which  belonged  to 
the  town  in  its  2JarocJnal  character  devolve 
upon  that  portion  of  its  inhabitants  who 
by  operation  of  law  became  successors  to 
the  town  in  that  capacity  ;  while  all  those 
which  belonged  to  the  town  in  its  munio- 
pal  character,  continue  so  to  belong  not- 
withstanding the  erection  of  a  new  parish. 
And  it  may  be  remarked  in  passing,  that 
this  is  equally  the  case,  where  the  persons 
who  are  formed  into  one  or  several  parishes, 
constitute  a  great  majority  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  town.  Those  who  became  the 
successors  of  the  town  in  its  parochial  ca- 
pacity, succeed  to  the  whole  of  ita  pa- 
rochial rights,  although  they  constitute 
but  a  small  minority  of  its  inhabitants." 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  I  suppose,  what 
would  have  been  the  operation  of  such  a 
decision  in  the  case  in  question. 


15 


226  PAESONAGE  PROPEETY. 

Accordingly,  when  the  attempt  was  renewed  in  the 
town  meeting  six  years  later,  and  a  vote  to  divide  was 
obtained,  and  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose, 
the  members  of  the  committee  belonging  to  that 
Church  refused  to  act ;  and  the  Trustees  entered  their 
protest  on  the  record,  forbidding  the  procedure,  de- 
claring the  title  to  be  vested  in  them,  and  "  advising 
the  people  then  met  to  let  the  parsonage  lands  alone." 
From  this  time  no  action  of  the  town  on  the  subject  is 
to  be  foimd  on  record ;  and  as  the  property  still  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  the  Trustees,  it  is  presumed 
theii'  kind  advice  was,  so  far  as  the  town  was  con- 
cerned, accepted.  But  the  contentions,  which  had  be- 
come very  sharp,  did  not  cease  here.  We  learn  from 
Dr.  Macwhorter,  that  for  many  years  they  continued 
to  keep  the  community  in  an  agitation.'"'  "  But,"  says 
he,  "  both  parties  wisely  determined  that  their  minis- 
ter should  not  be  called  in,  but  secluded  from  these 
disputes,  and  therefore  he  never  interested  himself  in 
them  or  had  any  thing  to  do  with  them."  Twenty 
years  later,  viz.,  about  the  years  1^86  or  1T87,  as  I 

*  The  claim  seems  first  to  have  been  set  congregation,    the    sturdy  Mountaineers 

up  by  the  Church  of  England,  who  took  turned  out  early  with  axes  and  teams,  and 

possession  of,  and  enclosed  a  portion  of  ranged  themselves  in  great  numbers  on 

the  wood  land.     But  the  people  at  the  the  fence,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  foe. 

mountain,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  When  the  Newarkers  arrived,  hard  words 

cut  wood  from  the  parsonage  land  for  began,    and    still  more  solid  arguments 

their  miniiter,  and  had  received  for  him  ensued,  and  the  Orangemen  being  either 

someoftherentsofthe  parsonage  meadow,  the  most  numerous  or  the  most  valiant, 

soon  and  vigorously  joined  in  the  pursuit,  fairly  beat  their  opponents  off  the  ground, 

There  is  a  tradition,  for  which  I  am  in-  and  sent  them  home  with  their  teams 

debtcd  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  White,  now  minis-  emptj-.    A  proposition  to  resort  to  hi^v', 

ter  of  the  First  Church  in  Orange  ;  that  a  however,  on  the  part  of  the  Trustees,  as 

report  being  spread  on  one  occasion,  that  appears  from  their  records,  brought  the 

the  people  of  Newark  were  coming  to  cut  matter  to  an  adjustment,  and  the  property 

wood  on  a  certain  day,  from  a  piece  of  remained  in  their  disposal, 
ground  claimed  and  appropriated  by  that 


MACWHOETER'S  EAELY  MimSTEY.  227 

learn  from  the  same  authority,  the  animosity  was 
quieted  by  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Church,  granting 
a  certain  dividend  of  the  out-lands  to  the  Episcopal- 
ians, and  another  di^ddend  to  the  Mountain  Society, 
now  called  Orange,  with  which  these  different  societies 
acknowledged  themselves  content.  These  dividends 
were  made  upon  condition  of  these  societies  taking 
leases  under  the  Trustees  of  the  Fii'st  Presbyterian  con- 
gregation. 

Mr.  Macwhorter  appears  to  have  enjoyed,  in  a  high 
degree,  the  attachment  and  confidence  of  his  people ; 
and  though  we  have  few  distinct  notices  of  the  partic- 
ular results  of  his  ministry  in  the  early  part  of  it,  it  is 
apparent  that  it  was  attended  with  no  inconsiderable 
success.  There  was  "  a  revival  of  religion"  during  the 
winter  of  1764-5,  as  Dr.  Griffin  informs  us,  when  the 
pastor  was  nearly  laid  aside  from  his  official  duties,  by 
"a  hectic,  accompanied  with  expectoration  of  blood, 
which  he  contracted  while  performing  a  mission  in 
North  Carolina,  in  the  course  of  the  summer  pre\dous. 
Again  in  1772,  there  was  a  second  special  religious  im- 
pulse, "  which  proved,"  says  the  same  authority,  "more 
extensive  than  the  former,  and  continued  about  two 
years." 

Although  not  a  native  of  New  England,  Mr.  Mac- 
whorter, like  his  predecessors,  maintained  an  intimate 
connection  and  correspondence  during  his  life,  with 
distinguished  ministei-s  in  that  region,  and  was  held  in 
high  estimation  by  them.  In  a  letter,  dated  December 
23,  1763,  we  find  him  writing  to  Dr.  Bellamy,  "at  the 
appointment  of  the  Presbytery  in  behalf  of  the  Church. 


228  INVITATIONS    TO   EEMOVE. 

of  Newark  Mountain,"  saying,  "  I  liope  you  will  recom- 
mend them  some  young  man  wliom  you  esteem  for  liis 
knowledge  of  the  truth,"  and  desiring  a  correspondence 
with  the  distinguished  Connecticut  theologian.  Several 
subsequent  letters,  still  extant,  and  relating  to  impor- 
tant matters  of  theology  and  ecclesiastical  discipline, 
bear  witness  that  his  desire  was  not  fruitless* 

During  this  period  he  was  often  solicited  to  remove 
and  take  the  charge  of  other  congregations.  The  year 
following  the  mission  above  referred  to,  as  we  learn 
from  the  minutes  of  the  Synod,  "  a  call  for  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Macwhorter  from  Hoj^ewell  and  Centre  congrega- 
tions in  North  Carolina,  was  brought  in  by  the  com- 
mittee of  overtures :  but  the  Synod  aj^prehending  that 
some  other  persons  may  be  more  conveniently  sent  to 
North  Carolina,  did  not  present  the  call  to  him."  A 
similar  request  was  presented  about  the  same  time  from 
other  congregations  or  settlements  in  the  same  colony. 
In  the  year  1*766,  soon  after  a  short  visit  to  Boston  on 
account  of  his  health,  the  Old  South  Church  in  that 
place,  then  recently  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  his 
brother-in-law,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Cumming,  made 
overtures  to  him  to  become  their  j^astor.     But,  as  they 

*  For  extracts  from  this  correspondence  issue,  God  only  knows.  And  there  seems 
I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Rer-  to  be  more  solemn  attention  to  the  word 
Eichard  Webster.  In  one  of  them  bear-  preached  this  winter  than  formerly.  May 
ing  date  Jan.  28, 1764,  there  is  an  obvious  God  overrule  it  for  good."  In  the  same 
allusion  to  the  incipient  manifestations  of  letter  he  propounds  the  question,  "  Of 
that  religious  revival  above  referred  to  what  avail  means  are,  seeing  man's  aver- 
as  having  taken  place  in  the  course  of  that  sion  to  holiness  is  such  he  neither  can  nor 
year.  He  says:  "I  have  very  little  reli  desires  to  have  it  removed?"  and  observes, 
gious  news  to  acquaint  you  with ;  there  in  answer  apparently  to  a  question  of  his 
are  some  few  young  persons  in  mycongre-  correspondent,  "As  to  new  books,  I  think 
gation  that  seem  to  be  under  very  serious  I  don't  live  in  a  printing  part  of  the  world, 
concern  about  their  salvation ;  how  it  will  I  see  but  very  few." 


MISSIONARY  EXCUESION.  229 

had  "  conscientious  scruples  about  calling  a  settled  pas- 
tor," and  he  was  not  prepared  to  accommodate  those 
scruples,  by  taking  a  dismission  from  his  own  people 
at  their  suggestion,  in  order  to  be  a  suitable  subject 
for  their  call,  the  business  went  no  further. 

The  mission  to  North  Carolina,  already  referred  to, 
was  performed  under  the  direction  of  the  Synod,  in 
accordance  with  a  frequent  practice  of  that  body,  to 
detach  pastors  temporarily  from  their  stated  charge, 
and  send  them  away  to  su23ply  destitute  regions. 

In  pursuance  of  their  work,  the  two  missionaries, 
Messrs.  Macwhorter  and  Spencer,  were  directed  to  form 
new  congregations,  adjust  their  boundaries,  ordain 
elders,  administer  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and  give 
instruction  and  aid  in  discipline,  government  and  wor- 
ship.* On  this  eminently  apostolic  mission  went  forth 
these  two  beloved  brethren;  and  returned  to  the 
Synod  with  their  report  of  its  fulfillment  at  the  next 
meeting.     The  pulpit  of  this  Church  was  supplied  three 

*  Minutes,  p.  339.  As  the  resolution  Churches,  and  the  future  settlement  of  the 
touching  this  matter  may  serve  to  illus-  Gospel  among  them.  And  also,  that  they 
irate  the  usages  of  the  period,  I  give  it  assure  those  people  wherever  they  go,  that 
entire:  "The  Synod,  more  particularly  this  Synod  has  their  interest  much  at 
considering  the  state  of  many  congrega-  heart,  and  will  neglect  no  opportunities  of 
tions  to  the  southward,  and  particularly  in  affording  them  proper  candidates  and 
North  Carolina,  and^the  great  importance  supplies,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power, 
of  having  those  congregations  properly  Ordered,  that  the  clerk  give  said  mission- 
organized,  appoint  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Elihu  aries  an  attested  copy  of  this  minute,  and 
Spencer  and  Alexander  Macwhorter,  to  go  proper  testimonials,  signed  by  the  moder- 
as  missionaries  for  that  purpose,  that  ator  and  clerk.  And,  that  these  brethren 
they  may  form  societies,  help  them  in  ad-  may  not  suffer  by  so  long  and  expensive 
justing  their  bounds,  ordain  elders,  ad  a  journey,  the  Synod  agree  to  defray 
minister  sealing  ordinances,  instruct  the  their  expenses,  and  make  them  a  proper 
people  in  discipline,  and  finally  direct  acknowledgment  for  the  damages  they 
them  in  their  after  conduct,  particularly  in  may  sustain  in  domestic  affairs,  and  for 
•what  manner  they  shall  proceed  to  obtain  this  purpose  a  collection  is  ordered 
the  stated  ministry,  and  whatever  else  may  through  our  bounds,  and  each  Presbytery 
appear    useful   or   necessary   for    those  is  required  to  see  it  be  duly  observed." 


230  ESTIMATION  AMONG  HIS   BEETHEEN. 

Sabbatlis  by  Mr.  Mills,  and  the  rest  of  the  time  by  tlie 
Presbytery  of  New  York.  On  tbeir  return  tbe  traveling 
exi3enses  of  tbe  missionaries  were  paid  according  to  the 
resolution ;  but  when  a  committee  bad  reported  on  tlie 
amount  due  to  tbese  brethren  for  tlieir  services  and 
sacrifices,  tlie  minutes  tell  us  that  "  Mr.  Macwborter 
returned  to  the  Synod  all  the  money  of  the  Synod's 
collection  allowed  by  the  committee."  In  the  discharge 
of  this  mission,  Mr.  Macwhorter,  as  I  have  already 
intimated,  contracted  a  disease  which  "  for  two  years 
threatened  to  put  an  early  period  to  his  usefulness," 
but  he  recovered  soon  after,  and  enjoyed  better  health 
than  before.  Except  in  the  performance  of  this  mis- 
sion, which  could  not  have  occupied  more  than  two  or 
three  months,  I  cannot  learn  that  he  was  much  absent 
from  his  people  during  the  first  eighteen  years. 

During  this  time  he  was  steadily  advancing  in  the 
confidence  of  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  in  use- 
fulness and  influence  in  the  Church  at  large.  In  the 
year  ITGG,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  clerks,  and  four 
years  later,  viz.,  in  1'770,  Moderator  of  the  Sjmod. 
Twice  he  was  appointed  to  preach  before  that  body, 
once  as  its  previous  Moderator,  and  once  as  the  substi- 
tute for  another,  who  had  died  since  his  apjDointment. 
In  1*766  the  corporation  of  Yale  College  bestowed  upon 
him  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  His 
name  appears  on  almost  all  important  committees 
which  were  appointed  by  the  Synod  towards  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  period  now  under  review.  Dr.  Griffin 
remarks  that  he  was  "  among  the  first  subscribers  to 
the  widow's  fund,  which  was  established  in  1761,  and 


AMEEIOAN   EEVOLUTION.  231 

in  later  life  was  for  many  years  a  director  of  that  be- 
nevolent institution."  "In  1'772  lie  was  chosen  a 
trustee  of  the  college  of  New  Jersey,  and  continued  a 
very  important  member  of  that  board  till  a  few  months 
before  his  death." 

But  now  came  on  the  memorable  period  of  the 
American  revolutionary  war,  memorable  in  the  history 
of  Newark  and  its  vicinity,  hardly  less  than  in  that  of 
any  other  spot  throughout  the  country.  In  the  month 
of  May,  I'T'TS,  just  one  month  after  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
Philadelj^hia  addressed  a  pastoral  letter  to  the  Chm'ches 
under  their  care,  in  which,  disclaiming  all  agency 
"  in  inflaming  the  minds  of  the  peoj^le,  or  m^ging  them 
to  acts  of  violence  and  disorder,"  they  express  very 
clearly  the  conviction,  that  the  whole  continent  are 
determined  to  defend  theii'  rights  by  force  of  arms, 
and,  "  if  the  British  ministry  shall  continue  to  enforce 
their  claims  by  violence,  a  lasting  and  bloody  contest 
must  ensue."  On  the  basis  of  this  conviction  they 
proceed  to  exhort  the  people  to  be  prepared 
for  death,  assuring  them,  "  especially  the  young 
and  vigorous"  among  them,  that  "  there  is  no  soldier 
so  undaunted  as  the  pious  man,  no  army  so  formida- 
ble as  those  who  are  superior  to  the  fear  of  death." 
At  the  same  time,  insisting  earnestly  on  loyalty  to  the 
king,  union  among  the  colonies,  a  spmt  of  humanity 
in  the  scene  of  action,  and  the  preservation  of  peace 
tni  the  last  possible  moment,  they  add  that  "that 
man  will  fight  most  bravely  who  never  fights  till  it  is 
necessary,  and  who  ceases  to  fight  as  soon  as  the  ne- 


232  DAY   OF   FASTING   AND   THANKSGIVING. 

cessily  is  over."*  The  letter  was  drawn  up  by  a  com- 
mittee, of  wliicli  the  patriotic  Witherspoon  was  at  the 
head,  and  five  hundred  copies  of  it  were  ordered  to  be 
printed;  and  it  seems  to  have  been  adopted  with 
entire  unanimity,  except  that  "Mr.  Halsey,"  as  the 
record  states,  "dissents  from  that  paragraph  of  said 
letter  which  contains  the  declarations  of  allegiance." 

Following  up  the  recommendation  of  the  Synod,  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York  observed,  for  many  succes- 
sive years,  a  part  of  the  last  Thursday  of  every  month 
as  a  season  of  special  prayer,  on  account  of  the  gloomy 
state  of  public  affairs ;  and  from  time  to  time  set  apart 
days  to  be  observed  in  fasting,  humiliation  and  ^^rayer, 
for  the  same  object,  resolving  likewise  in  one  instance, 
"  to  mingle  thanks  with  our  prayers  for  our  innu- 
merable mercies,"  amidst  the  tokens  of  God's  dis- 
pleasure. The  meeting,  from  whose  minutes  these 
last  words  are  extracted,  was  held  at  Mendham,  N.  J., 
on  the  tenth  of  October,  lY'76,f  when  a  comparison  of 
dates  shows  us  that  the  country's  cause  was  in  a  most 
perilous  condition,  New  York  having  just  before  been 
evacuated,  and  being  already  in  possession  of  the  enemy; 
and  when  the  American  army,  defeated  on  Long  Island, 
and  much  dispirited,  was  apparently  fast  waning  to  no- 
thing. It  marks  the  troubled  condition  of  the  times, 
that  at  this  meeting,  only  six  ministers  and  three  elders 
are  reported  as  present,  and  twenty-one  ministers  as  ab- 
sent; and  it  shows  equally  the  pious  confidence  and 
sacred  cheerfulness  of  that  little  band,  that  in  such  cu*- 

*  Minutes,  pp.  466,  467.  t  See  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York. 


AEMT    m   NEWARK.  233 

cumstances,  tliey  could  not  forget  tliat  tlieii*  beloved 
country  had  still  mercies  to  be  thankful  for. 

It  is  well  known,  that  during  all  that  memorable 
struggle,  there  were  to  be  found  no  firmer  and  more 
zealous  and  self-sacrificing  patriots  than  the  ministers 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  j^robably  the  remark 
recently  made  to  me  by  an  aged  woman,  who  well 
remembers  those  stirring  scenes,  was  not  far  from  the 
truth,  viz :  that  "  black  coats  were  nearly  as  offensive 
to  the  British  then,  as  red  coats*  were  to  the  inhabit- 
ants." Mr.  Macwhorter  shared  very  largely  in  the 
patriotic  feeling  which  animated  his  brethren,  and  pos- 
sessing naturally  great  decision  and  activity,  could  not 
remain  idle  when  such  a  struggle  was  going  on  almost 
at  his  very  door. 

Washington  came  to  NcAvark  with  his  retreating 
army  on  the  2 2d  of  November,  just  two  days  after  the 
day  of  mingled  fasting  and  thanksgiving.  And  who 
can  tell  how  much  of  the  heroic  calmness,  the  sublime 
undaunted  resolution,  which  are  said  to  have  marked 
his  deliberations  during  the  week  that  he  and  his  ex- 
hausted and  broken  forces  spent  here,  may  have  been 
given  him  from  heaven,  in  answer  to  those  grateful 
prayers  ?  But  the  foe  was  in  pursuit.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis,  it  is  said,  entered  Newark  on  the  same  day  that 
Washington  left  it.  Nor  did  the  i:)atriot  pastor  re- 
main behind.  Either  accompanying,  or  soon  following 
the  retreat  of  the  army,  he,  with  one  of  his  brethren,f 
repaired  to  the  encampment  on  the  Pennsylvania  shore, 

*  i.  e,  British  troops.  t  Rev.  Jlr.  Yanarsdale,  of  Springfield. 


234  DE.    MACWHOETER   WITH   THE   AEMY. 

oj)posite  Trenton,  and,  by  tlie  invitation  of  Wasliing- 
ton,  was  present  and  assisted  at  tlie  council  of  war, 
which  decided  on  the  memorable  crossing  of  the  Del- 
aware and  those  achievements  consequent  upon  it,  by 
which,  through  the  favor  of  heaven,  despair  was 
changed  to  hope,  and  the  dying  cause  of  American  lib- 
erty resuscitated.  Dr.  Griffin  informs  us,  that,  during 
the  previous  year,  viz.,  in  1'7'75,  "he  was  appointed  by 
Congress  to  "vdsit  that  district  of  North  Carolina  to 
which  he  had  been  before,  to  employ  his  influence  to 
bring  over  the  enemies  of  the  revolution  to  the  Amer- 
ican interest,"  but  adds,  that  "  whatever  zeal  and  abil- 
ities were  exerted  in  this  enterprise,  it  issued,  agreeably 
to  his  prediction  to  Dr.  Franklin,  with  little  success." 
It  is  probable  that  he  went  on  this  journey  charged 
with  a  double  commission ;  for  corresponding  to  this 
statement,  I  find  the  following  minute  in  the  records 
of  the  Presbytery  at  its  meeting  in  May,  ITTG.  "Mr. 
Macwhorter  reports,  that  he  has  fulfilled  the  mission 
to  North  Carolina  agreeable  to  the  appointment  of 
Presbytery."*  "In  the  summer  of  1778,"  says  Dr. 
Griffin,  "  at  the  solicitation  of  his  friend.  General  Knox, 
he  accepted  the  chaplainship  of  his  brigade,  which  lay 
then  with  the  main  army  at  White  Plains,"  where 
"Washington  was  among  his  frequent  auditors,  and  he 
was  often  Washington's  guest.  It  was  while  engaged 
in  this  patriotic  service  that  a  visitation  from  God  upon 
his  family  in  the  form  of  a  stroke  of  lightning,  which 
prostrated  and  well  nigh  destroyed  the  life  of  Mi's. 

*  See  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York. 


PARSONAGE   EIFLED   BY   THE  ENEafST.  235 

Macwliorter,  called  liiin  suddenly  from  his  public  sta- 
tion, to  minister  to  tlie  necessities  of  liis  own  household. 

During  the  period  to  which  we  now  refer,  every 
thing  was  in  the  greatest  confusion  in  this  community. 
The  North  Kiver,  being  frozen  over  during  a  consider- 
able part  of  one  winter,  afforded  free  passage  for  dep- 
redators. Cattle  were  seized  and  driven  away  by  par- 
ties of  refugees ;  houses  were  plundered  and  burned ; 
and  citizens  taken  out  of  their  beds,  and  made  to 
march  nine  miles,  barefooted  anc|,  unclad,  on  the  ice 
and  frozen  earth,  to  New  York.  Dr.  Macwhorter  him- 
self speaks  of  having  "fled  before  the  enemy  in  1*776, 
when  the  British  troops  took  possession  of  the  town," 
at  which  time  the  ancient  records  of  this  Church,  with 
many  books  of  his  own,  being  left  in  the  parsonage 
house,  were  destroyed.  Many  of  the  inhabitants 
escaped  to  places  of  greater  security,  and  those  who 
remained  were  in  constant  apprehension  of  surj)rises. 
Public  worship  was  held  but  seldom,  and  that  by  as- 
sembhng  the  people  on  a  special  notice.  When  the 
pastor  was  at  home,  he  was  obliged  to  have  a  sentinel 
stationed  at  his  house  for  his  protection,  and  it  is  said 
there  was  an  old  man,  now  recently  deceased,  who 
remembered  having  frequently  "stood  guard"  at  the 
door  of  the  parsonage.* 

In  such  cu'cumstances,  it  can  hardly  excite  surj^rise, 

*  The  relations  which  he  sustained  to  siah  Hornblower,  Joseph  Riggs,  and  Lewis 
the  public  affaii-s  of  the  country  about  this  Ogden,  be  a  committee  to  give  such  in- 
time,  are  indicated  by  the  following  vote  structions  to  our  Legislatures  in  this 
of  the  Town  of  Newark,  under  date  of  county  from  time  to  time,  according  as 
March  0,1779.  "  Voted  that  the  Reverend  occasion  may  require."  (Newark  Town 
Alexander  Macwhorter,  Mr.  Chapman,  Jo-  Records,  p.  19S.) 


236  DE.  macwhoeter's  eemoval. 

tliat  Dr.  Macwliorter  should  have  lent  an  ear  to  the 
calls  of  Providence,  summoning  him  to  other  spheres 
of  ministerial  service.  His  labors  here  were  nearly 
impracticable,  and  his  means  of  support  had  become 
entirely  inadequate.'^  Accordingly,  after  receiving 
one  or  two  invitations  to  imjDortant  stations,f  a  call 
having  been  presented  to  him  from  the  congregation 
of  Charlotte,  Mechlenburg  Co.,  North  Carolina,  to  take 
the  jDastoral  charge  of  that  j^eoj^le,  together  with  the 
presidency  of  an  important  literary  institution,  then  in 
its  infancy  in  that  place,  J  he  accepted  the  call,  and, 
without  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  New- 
ark, who,  with  friendly  liberality,  furnished  him  "  with 
every  needed  article  for  his  journey,"  was  dismissed 
from  his  charge,  and,  removing  with  his  family  to 
North  Carolina,  in  October,  1779,  became  the  pastor 
of  another  people.  But  no  sooner  was  he  established 
in  his  new  station,  than  he  was  again  compelled  to 
make  his  escape  from  the  encroachments  of  war.  Lord 
Cornwallis,  from  whose  army  he  iled  in  Newark,  en- 
tered Charlotte.  Dr.  Macwhorter  lost  his  library  and 
furniture,  and  almost  every  thing  he  possessed,  and 
finding  no  prosjDect  of  a  quiet  course  of  usefulness  there, 

*  The  following  minute  in  the  records  take  such  other  steps  as  he  thinks  proper, 

of  the  Trustees  of  this  congregation,  serres  and  apply  the  money  to  his  own  use." 

to    illustrate    this  point.      "Whereas,  a  11  March,  177S.     (Records,  p.  1.) 

quantity  of  wood  has  been  cut  off  the  par-  +  Dr.  GriflSn  states  that  in  the  month  of 

sonage  for  the  use  of  the  troops,  and  no  June,  1778,  he  received  an  application  for 

regular  account  kept  thereof,  and  whereas  his    services    from    the    Congregational 

the  high  price  of  every  article  of  life  ren-  Church  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 

ders  it  very  difficult  for  our  worthy  minis-  and  a  few  months  later,  a  regular  call  from 

ter  to  subsist,  it  is  agreed  by  this  board,  that  congregation.    (See  Funeral  Sermon, 

that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Macwhorter  p.  19.) 

be  authorized  to  agree  and  compound  with  %  Charlotte  Academy, 
the  quarter-masters  for  the  said  wood,  or 


EESETTLEMENT   IN   NEWARK.  237 

left  the  place  in  tlie  autumn  of  1780,  and  made  his 
way  back  as  far  as  Abingtou,  where  he  engaged  to 
preach  for  the  winter. 

Meanwhile,  the  congregation  here  tad  remained 
without  a  pastor.  A  Mr.  Fish,*  as  I  have  been  in- 
formed, suj^plied  the  pulpit  for  a  time,  but  he  was  not 
settled,  and  the  attachment  of  the  people  to  their  old 
shepherd  remained  unabated.  By  special  invitation,  he 
made  them  a  visit  in  the  month  of  February,  1781, 
and  before  the  end  of  April,  he  w^s  back  with  all  his 
family,  and  reinstated  in  his  pastoral  rights  and  priv- 
ileges.f 

The  question  has  been  raised  whether  Dr.  Macwhor- 
ter  was  the  pastor  of  the  Church,  or  only  a  stated 
supply,  during  the  succeeding  years  of  his  ministry. 
A  brief  statement  of  facts  will  suffice,  I  think,  to  set 
that  question  at  rest.  Dr.  Macwhorter's  testimonials 
of  dismission  and  recommendation  were  voted  in  the 
Presbytery,  at  a  meeting  held  in  Newark,  June  11th, 
1779,  but  were  not  furnished  by  the  Clerk  till  the 
order  was  renewed,  on  the  19th  of  October  following. 
On  the  9th  of  May,  1781,  he  again  appeared  in  the 

*  The  records  of  the  Trustees  contain  lady,  who  is  wiser  in  her  generation  tl^n 

some  notices  of  an  order  to  pay  Mr.  Fish,  the  children  of  light,  declares  it  will  be  as 

just  after  Dr.  M.'s  return.  impracticable  to  maintain  his  wasteful  se- 

+  The  following  extract,  from  a  letter  of  raglio  as  to  keep  the  light  house  in  forage ; 

the  Hon.  Wm.  Peartree  Smith  to  his  son,  and  though  I  really  have  the  charity  to 

is  at  least  amusing.    It  is,  I  believe,  with-  think  she  would  open  her  purse    *    *    * 

out  date.  with  proper  Christian  prudence,  to  feed 

"  I  send  you  a  letter  from  your  friend,  the  Gospel  minister,  yet  she  can  by  no 

Dr.  Rogers,  bro't   hither   by  Mr.  Fish,  means  brook  it,  that  the  pious  morsels  she 

Pray,  do  you  know  that  old  Parson  Mac-  oflFers  on  the  altar,  should  be  immediately 

whorter,  with  his  hopeful  flock,  are  all  got  gobbled  by  his  group  of  insatiable  ungos- 

safe  to  Abington,  a  place  not  far  from  pelled  gossips."    The  whole  letter  is  full 

Philadelphia?    The  good  old  folks  here  of  fun,  and  probably  answered  its  intent  to 

now  talk  of  recalling  him.    My  economic  provoke  a  little  good  uatured  merriment. 


238  RESETTLEMENT  IN  NEWARK. 

Presbytery,  wlien  Mr.  Baldwin,  his  elder,  made  the 
statement  that  the  congi'egation  in  Newark  had  invited 
Dr.  Macwhorter  to  re-settle  with  them,  and  Dr.  Mac- 
whorter  himself  declared  that  he  had  accepted  the 
invitation.'"*  The  minutes  of  the  same  meeting  contain 
the  following  entry:  "Dr.  Macwhorter  having  been 
driven  from  his  congregation  in  North  Carolina  by  the 
enemy,  and  now  residing  in  our  bounds,  the  Presby- 
tery do  receive  him  as  a  stated  corresponding  member, 
till  he  receive  a  regular  dismission."  A  few  days  later, 
\dz.,  on  the  l7th  of  the  same  month,  Dr.  Macwhorter 
appeared  in  the  Synod,  and  stated  that  the  distressing 
circumstances  of  North  Carolina,  arising  from  the  war, 
had  rendered  the  objects  of  his  removal  abortive,  and 
prevented  him  from  obtaining  a  regular  dismission 
from  the  Orange  Presbytery."  "  Whereuj)on,  it  was 
ordered  that  Dr.  Macwhorter  be  re-united  to  the  New 
York  Presbytery."  Before  the  next  meeting  of  that 
body  however,  he  had  obtained  his  credentials,  and 
was  enrolled  accordingly.f 

The  only  doubt  about  his  pastoral  connection,  has 
arisen  from  the  fact  that  he  was  not  formally  re-in- 
stalled. But,  for  this  omission  there  were  sufficient 
reasons.  He  had  been  absent  from  his  old  people  less 
than  two  years,  and  meanwhile  they  had  had  no  other 
pastor.  A  formal  installation  would  naturally  appear 
to  them  almost  superfluous.  Besides,  the  distracted 
state  of  the  times  made  it  difficult  for  that  body  to 
assemble ;  and  it  is  extremely  doubtful,  whether  they 

*  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New       t  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia 
York.  and  New  York. 


EESETTLEMENT   IN   NEWAEK.  239 

held  any  regular  meetings  for  a  year  or  two  previous 
to  Dr.  Macwhorter's  dismission.  The  whole  body  was 
almost  constantly  absent  from  the  Synod,  and,  from 
the  same  causes.  Dr.  Macwhorter's  dismission  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Orange  could  not  be  obtained  till  he 
had  l^een  actually  officiating  as  minister  in  his  old  sta- 
tion for  a  considerable  time. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  well  known  that  Dr.  Mac- 
whorter  always  regarded  himself  as  the  regular  pastor, 
and  so  si3eaks  of  himself  repeatedly  in  his  writings ; 
and  the  people  likewise  so  regarded  him,  and  so  sj^oke 
of  him  and  addressed  him.*  The  Presbytery  too, 
recognized  him  as  the  pastor,  in  the  most  ex]3licit 
terms ;  and  his  colleague,  Dr.  Griffin,  was  settled  ac- 
cordingly, as  the  "  co-pastor  of  Dr.  Macwhorter." 

Nor  is  this  the  only  case  on  record,  in  which  a  pas- 
toral relation  has  been  constituted  without  a  formal 
installation.  The  Eev.  John  Murray  was  removed 
from  Booth  Bay  to  Newburyport,  Mass.,  by  a  simple 
vote  of  his  Presbytery,  sitting  at  a  different  place; 
and,  in  the  early  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadel- 
phia, then  the  highest  judicatory  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  there  is  a  formal  judgment  pronounced  on  a 
case  directly  in  2:)oint.  I  refer  to  the  case  of  the  Eev. 
William  Tennent,  senior,  of  Neshaminy,  a  portion  of 
whose  people  attempted  to  deny  him  pastoral  rights, 
because  he  had  not  been  formally  installed.  That 
judgment  is,  ''That  ]\Ii\ Tennent,  having  in  all  respects 
acted,  and  been  esteemed  and  looked  upon,  not  only 

*  See  an  address  to  Dr.  M.,  prefixed  to  the  published  volumes  of  his  discourses. 


240  NEWAEK    EECOVEES   ITS    PEOSPEEITY. 

by  this  Synod,  but  also  by  the  congregation  of  Ne- 
shaminy,  and  particularly  by  the  appellants  them- 
selves, as  the  pastor  of  that  people,  that  he  is  still  to 
be  esteemed  as  the  pastor  of  that  people,  notwithstand- 
ing the  want  of  a  formal  installment  among  them" — 
an  omission  which  the  Synod  goes  on  to  declare,  "  is 
far  from  nullifying  the  pastoral  relation."*  The 
question  may  perhaps  be  regarded  as  of  little  moment, 
but  as  it  has  been  raised  recently,  in  some  of  the  pub- 
lic papers,  it  seems  due  to  historic  verity,  to  say 
nothing  more,  that  the  true  state  of  the  case  should 
be  exhibited.  ^^^       ^^ 

The  town  of  Newark  suffered  severely  in  all  its  in- 
terests during  the  war,  but  when  the  war  closed,  Dr. 
Macwhorter  tells  us,  "  it  soon  recovered  from  its  dam- 
ages, increased  fast  in  its  population,  and  quickly 
began  to  flourish,  especially  in  manufactories."f  Just 
at  the  close  of  that  period,  in  1783,  says  Dr.  Griitiu, 
"the  trustees  of  Washington  Academy  in  Somerset 
county,  Maryland,  ignorant  that  Dr.  Macwhorter  was 
permanently  settled,  offered  him  the  Presidency  of 
that  institution  with  a  salary  of  300  pounds  a  year." 
But  though  the  principal  object  of  the  institution  was 
the  education  of  pious  youth  for  the  gospel  ministry, 
and  though  the  neighboring  county  opened  an  ex- 
tensive field  for  his  ministerial  labors,  his  attachment 
to  the  congregation,  which  had  so  recently  given  him 
such  generous  proofs  of  affection,  rendered  it  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  accept  the  invitation."^     He  was  heart- 

*  Miuutes  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,        +  Manuscript  History, 
p.  125.  j  Funeral  Sermon,  pp.  21-22. 


EEVIVAL   OF    1784.  241 

ily  glad  to  get  back  among  his  old  friends,  and  tlie 
people  were  quite  as  glad  to  bid  him  welcome  and  to 
retain  him  among  them. 

The  next  year,  viz.,  the  year  1*784,  was  distinguished 
by  the  commencement  of  a  very  great  and  lasting  re- 
vival of  religion  in  this  congregation.  Among  the 
seasons  of  special  encouragement,  which  had  distin- 
guished the  earlier  period  of  Dr.  Macwhorter's  ministry, 
was  the  one  which  occurred  just  before  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war.  But  the  troubles  which  so  soon  fol- 
lowed, seemed  to  turn  the  thoughts  of  the  people  away 
from  their  spiritual  interests,  and  a  large  part  of  the 
supposed  converts,  it  is  said,  went  back  and  walked  no 
more  with  Christ's  followers.  But  the  effusion  of 
divine  influences  experienced  at  the  period  now  re- 
ferred to,  surpassed,  as  the  aged  people  who  remember 
it  say,  all  that  went  before  during  theii'  memory,  and 
all  that  has  followed.  It  was  at  a  time  of  o-reat  reli- 
gious  declension  every  where,  and  especially  in  this 
congregation.  Dancing,  frolicking,  and  all  sorts  of 
worldly  amusements  absorbed  the  thoughts  of  the 
young,  even  in  the  most  res23ectable  and  religious  fam- 
ilies ;  and  among  the  lower  class,  \Tice  and  dissii^ation, 
the  bitter  dregs  of  the  long  and  demoralizing  war, 
which  had  but  just  ended,  prevailed  to  a  frightful 
extent.  At  this  juncture,  a  stranger  preached  at  an 
\  evening  service.  There  were  no  pews  in  the  old 
chm'ch,  but  the  people  sat  upon  long  benches — the 
men  on  one  side  and  the  women  on  the  other — while 
in  the  gallery  sat  the  young  people,  distributed  on 
opposite  sides  in  the  same  way.    In  the  midst  of  hia 

16 


242  EEVIVAL  OF   1784. 

sermon  the  preacher  paused,  and  looking  up  to  the 
young  people  in  the  gallery,  referred  to  what  he  had 
learned  respecting  their  habits,  and  asked  in  a  solemn 
and  earnest  manner,  "  Will  you  go  dancing  to  hell  ?" 
The  countenances  of  two  or  three  fell  immediately, 
their  heads  dropped,  and  it  was  soon  evident  that  the 
bow  thus  drawn  at  a  venture,  had  sped  an  arrow  of 
the  Almighty,  destined  to  slay  the  enmity  of  many  a 
wicked  heart. 

From  that  time  one  after  another  became  deeply 
anxious  about  their  soul's  safety.  The  alarm  spread 
from  heart  to  heart,  and  from  house  to  house.  Worldly 
gayety  was  abandoned.  Religion  became  the  theme 
of  conversation  in  all  companies.  Praying  circles  and 
conference  meetings  were  held  in  different  parts  of  the 
town;  an  almost  universal  reformation  of  outward 
habits  was  effected ;  large  numbers  were  converted  and 
gave  evidence  of  a  radical  spiritual  change,  among 
them  some  of  the  most  desperate  characters  in  the 
place,  and  for  two  years  the  whole  face  of  society 
became  entirely  changed. 

I  state  these  facts  on  the  authority  of  three  or  four 
aged  people,  Avho  remember  them  well,  and  all  of 
whom  tell  substantially  the  same  story.  Dr.  Griffin 
states  that  "  at  no  period  of  Dr.  Macwhorter's  ministry 
was  he  observed  to  be  so  laden  with  a  sense  of  ever- 
lasting things,  and  so  ardent  in  his  desire  to  win  souls 
to  Christ.  Besides  his  labors  on  the  Sabbath,  he 
preached  several  times  in  the  week,  and  spent  a  part 
of  almost  every  day  in  catechizing,  exhorting  from 
house  to  house,  or  attending  religious  societies."     "  In 


IMPKOVEMEl^T   IN   DISCIPLINE.  243 

this  precious  season,"  lie  adds,  "  more  tlian  a  Inindred 
souls  were  added  to  tlie  Cliurcli."  But  it  was  not  so 
much  the  number  of  the  converts,  as  the  deep  and. 
universal  influence  of  the  heavenly  impulse,  among  a 
people  then  comparatively  few,  that  gave  distinction 
to  this  remarkable  effusion  of  the  Divine  Spirit. 

It  appears  from  a  statement  of  Dr.  Griffin,  that  one 
of  the  results  of  this  revival  was  an  important  change 
in  the  mode  of  administering  the  government  of  the 
Church.  The  "  half  way  covenant,"  to  which  we  have 
already  had  occasion  to  advert  as  a  measure  particu- 
larly repugnant  to  the  views  of  the  fii'st  settlers,  had 
in  process  of  time,  no  one  knows  how  or  when,  found 
its  way  into  the  Church  and  become  confii'med  in  the 
habits  and  prejudices  of  the  people.  Dr.  Macwhorter 
found  it  here,  and  knew  not  how  to  banish  it.  As 
early  as  April  16,  1764,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  Dr. 
Bellamy,  we  find  him  expressing  his  dissatisfaction  in 
the  following  explicit  terms :  "  You  ask  me  what  is 
the  practice  in  Churches  our  way  ?  Much  the  same  as 
you  represent  it  in  the  Churches  your  way.  Almost 
every  body  has  their  children  baptized,  but  few  come 
to  the  Lord's  Supper.  Some  of  om'  best  ministers 
hold  that  persons  may  have  the  sacrament  of  baptism 
who  are  not  fit  to  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  Some 
are  in  Mr.  Stoddard's  scheme  that  unbehevers  ouerht 
to  attend  both  ordinances.  And  some  few,  but  very 
few,  are  of  the  sentiment  I  have  meant  to  express  in 
this  paper,  and  we  can't  act  up  to  our  sentiments.  I 
have  been  struggling  to  act  upon  principle,  but  I  can't, 
in  hardly  any  thing,  get  matters  brought  to  my  mind. 


244  IMPEOVEMENT   IN   DISCXPLINE. 

Our  Cliui'clies  I  look  upon  in  a  most  ragged,  shattered 
condition.  May  God  pour  out  His  Spiiit,  and  grant 
us  a  reformation,  both,  in  discipline  and  doctrine."* 
At  the  period  to  which  I  now  refer,  Dr.  Macwhorter 
began  a  vigorous  effort  to  produce  a  reformation. 
"One  evening,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "in  the  autumn  of 
1Y85,  when  the  Dr.'s  mind  was  deeply  impressed  with 
divine  things,  he  expressed  to  two  of  his  friends  in  a 
private  conversation,  in  which  he  was  unusually  tender 
and  communicative,  his  concern  for  the  want  of  disci- 
pline, and  the  looseness  which  prevailed  in  the  Church, 
which  he  attributed  to  what  has  been  called  the  half 
way  practice.  It  is  still  in  the  recollection  of  those 
persons  in  what  a  solemn  and  indignant  manner  he 
deplored  this  practice,  which  he  averred  was  contrary 
to  the  usage  of  the  primitive  Chm*ch  and  the  opinion 
of  the  best  fathers."  In  this  conversation,  Dr.  G. 
adds,  "he  proceeded  in  a  distinct  manner,  to  sketch 
the  plan  which  he  approved ;  which  was  precisely  the 
same  that  the  Session  afterwards  sanctioned."f 

Meanwhile  a  similar  dissatisfaction  had  been 
awakened  in  the  minds  of  a  portion  of  his  people. 
Remonstrances  and  resistance  followed  and  the  im- 
patience of  a  few,  who  could  not  wait  for  the  tardy 
movements  of  reform,  created  difficulty,  and  even  led  to 
secession,  and  finally  with  some  other  causes  resulted  in 
an  attempt  to  found  a  separate  religious  society 4    The 

*  lUitract  of  a  letter  furniahed  by  Rev.  worth  and  many  eccentricitiea.    Among 

Richard  Webster.  the  good  enterprises  which  he  attempted, 

+  Funeral  Sermon,  p.  23.  was  the  forming  of  an  association  for 

t  The  leader  in  this  movement  was  "  relieving  the  immediate  wants  of  the 

Moses  N,  Combs,  a  man  of  considerable  poor,  schooling  poor  children,  and  to  co&< 


IMPROVEMENT  IN   DISCIPLINE. 


245 


pastor,  tlioiigli  lie  did  not  approve  of  tliese  measures, 
pursued  tlie  object  in  a  more  regular  way,  witli  equal 
resoluteness.  He  reasoned  against  tlie  offensive  prac- 
tice, both  in  public  and  private,  and  at  length,  although 
many  were  strongly  attached  to  the  old  custom,  and 
many  were  fearful  of  an  innovation,  the  Session  came 
unanimously  to  the  decision,  that,  "  from  that  time  no 
persons  should  own  the  covenant  with  a  view  to  offer 
theii'  children  in  baptism,  and  to  neglect  the  Lord's 
Supper;  and  that  the  examination  of  candidates  for 
admission  to  communion,  which  had  been  left  to  the 
minister  only,  should  in  future  be  conducted  before 
the  Session."* 

I  have  already  spoken  of  the  deficiency  of  Dr.  Mac- 
whorter's  means  of  support  during  the  continuance  of 


verse  about  the  things  that  concern  the 
kingdom  of  God."  Zealous  for  the  re- 
formation of  the  Church,  this  association 
sent  a  committee  to  the  Session,  praying 
them  to  take  measures  to  abolish  the  of- 
fensive practice ;  but  not  succeeding  as 
they  wished,  a  portion  of  them  withdrew 
from  communion.  For  a  time  they  at- 
tended worship  and  were  admitted  to  oc- 
casional communion  with  the  church  in 
Orange,  and  afterwards  commenced  sepa- 
rate worship  in  Newark.  One  of  the  com- 
plaints they  made  against  the  Church  was 
its  uniting  with  those  who  were  not  church 
members  in  supporting  public  worship, 
building  meeting  houses,  &c.,  all  which 
they  regarded  as  being  "  unequally  yoked 
with  unbelievers."  Mr.  Combs  was  a  tan- 
ner and  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  at  one 
time  was  very  successful  in  business,  and 
became  rich.  He  erected  a  wooden  build- 
ing for  the  use  of  his  societj',  and  became 
their  preacher.  "Silver  was  showered 
upon  him,"  he  said,  "  so  plentifully  that 
he  did  not  know  what  else  to  do  with  it." 
The  society  did  not  keep  together  many 
years,  and  several  of  its  members  at  length 


applied  for  restoration,  and  on  proper  ac- 
knowledgments, were  restored  to  member- 
ship in  the  church. 

*  See  Dr.  GriflBn's  Funeral  Sermon, 
p.  24.  The  vote,  as  it  stands  on  the  Min- 
utes of  the  Session,  is  not  as  explicit  on 
the  first  point  as  Dr.  Griffin  states  it, 
though  it  may  be  presumed,  the  effect  of 
it  was  in  accordance  with  his  representa- 
tion. It  bears  date  March  28, 1794,  and 
is  in  the  form  of  a  series  of  resolu- 
tions, recommended  for  the  adoption  of 
the  Church.  Among  them  are  explicit 
provisions  for  an  examination  of  candi- 
dates for  sealing  ordinances  before  the 
Session,  the  exclusion  of  immoral  men 
and  unbelievers  from  both  sacraments, 
the  determination  to  exercise  discipline 
more  faithfully  than  before,  and  the  dec- 
laration "  that  (baptized)  children  are 
members  of  the  Church,  and  that  parents 
shall  be  accountable  for  the  behavior  of 
their  children  till  they  shall  arrive  to  the 
years  of  matwrity ;  then  the  children  shall 
be  dealt  with  for  immoralities  as  other 
members  of  the  Church."  (Records,  vol, 
i,  pp.  47-48. 


246  DEFICIENOY   OF   FUNDS. 

the  war.  The  precise  amount  of  his  nominal  salary  at 
that  time,  I  do  not  know ;  but  it  seems  to  have  been 
irregularly  paid  for  some  years  after.  The  mode  of 
gathering  it  was  chiefly  that  of  voluntary  subscription. 
But  though  various  methods  were  adopted  to  quicken 
delinquents,  the  subscriptions  often  fell  far  into  ar- 
rears in  respect  to  payment.  Twice,  viz.,  in  the  years 
1785  and  1786,  the  Trustees  adopted  the  somewhat 
singular  expedient  of  requesting  the  minister  to  call  a 
meeting  of  the  congregation,  and  "  preach  a  sermon  on 
that  day,"  "  that  a  state  of  the  funds  may  be  laid  be- 
fore them,  and  some  mode  fallen  into  to  increase  the 
same."  Partly  as  a  means  of  eking  out  a  scanty  in- 
come. Dr.  Macwhorter  was  in  the  practice  of  teaching 
a  small  school.  But  on  the  16th  of  March,  1786,  the 
day,  as  a  comparison  of  dates  shows,  on  which  the 
Trustees  had  requested  the  sermon  to  be  preach- 
ed, the  congregation  after  desiring  Dr.  Macwhorter 
"  to  leave  the  chair  and  go  out,  as  there  was  some  bu- 
siness to  be  done  which  referred  personally  to  him," 
voted  "  that  Dr.  Macwhorter's  salary  be  raised  to  three 
hundred  pounds  a  year,  and  that  he  be  requested  to 
give  up  his  school,  or  get  an  usher,  that  he  may  be 
enabled  to  visit  his  congregation  more."  To  avoid 
irregularities  in  future,  it  was  also  then  voted,  "  that 
this  salary  be  raised  by  tax."* 

*  See  Records  of  the  Trustees.  The  sup-  Thursday,  to  provide  the  said  wood,"  and 
ply  of  firewood,  probably  from  the  par-  it  is  further  on  record,  "  that  a  motion  was 
sonage  land,  seems  to  have  been  a  sepa-  made  and  seconded,  that  a  vote  should  be 
rate  matter,  and  to  have  been  provided  taken  whether  a  supper  should  be  fur- 
still  in  a  voluntary  way.  At  a  meeting  nished  on  that  day  for  those  who  assist  ia 
called  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  about  getting  the  said  wood.  It  was  accordingly 
it  on  the  8th  of  November,  1793, 1  find  a  taken,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative." 
vote  appointing  a  particular  day,  "next 


HOUSE   OF   WORSHIP   EEPAIRED.  247 

Tlie  second  liouse  of  worship  had  now  become  man- 
ifestly inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  congregation. 
Dr.  Macwhorter  states  that  in  less  than  iifty  years 
after  its  erection  it  became  too  small  to  contain  com- 
fortably the  j^eople.  *  In  the  year  1755,  a  proposition 
was  made  to  repair  and  enlarge  it,  but  "  after  consult- 
ing various  architects,"  the  decision  was  only  to  repair 
it  and  give  it  a  new  roof,  and  this  decision  was  carried 
into  eftect  the  following  year.*  The  people  however, 
were  not  satisfied  with  what  had  been  done.  Various 
meetings  were  held  on  the  subject,  especially  during 
the  period  extending  from  1768  to  1773.  At  length, 
in  the  year  1774,  under  the  stimulus  given  to  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  by  the  religious  improvement  al- 
ready referred  to,  the  erection  of  "a  new  and  large 

*  It  is  scarcely  to  be  wondered  at  that    Misses used  to  cut  as  they  passed  ap 

the  people  should  have  felt  great  reluct-  the  aisle  with  rustling  silks  and  tossings 

tance  to  demolish  this  venerable  edifice,  of  the  head,  to  take  the  undisputed  place 

associated  as  it  must  have  been  in  their  of  preferment.    The  rest  of  the  house  was 

minds  with  so  many  memorable  scenes,  seated  with  long  benches,  and  in  the  mid- 
There  the  college  of  New  Jersey  had  been  ,  die  aisle  descended  the  bell  rope,  where 

cradled ;  there  David  Brainerd  had  been  the  sexton  stood  to  perform  his  duty  in  the 

set  apart  to  the  office  of  his  heroic  minis-  midst  of  the  congregation, 

try;    there  Whitefield  had  poured  forth  A  tradition  of  the  preaching  of  Whitefield 

his  melting  eloquence,  and  there  the  Spirit  in  the  old  house  is  thus  related  by  Rev.  Ste- 

of  God  had  displayed  in  wonderful  scenes,  phen  Dodd,  of  East  Haven,  Ct.      "The 

his  converting  power.    The  building,  as  I  second  wife  of  Moses  Farrand  was  Dorcas 

have   stated,   was   about    forty-four    feet  Pnidden.    She  told  me  that  once  when  Mr. 

square.    The  pulpit  stood  on  the  west  side,  Whitefield  came  there  to  preach  she  wag 

between  two  windows.    Before  the  pulpit  twelve  years  old,  and  as  he  came  up  and 

was  a  seat  for  the  leader  of  the  singing,  entered  the  pulpit,  she  eyed  him  with  dia- 

where   for    many   years,  tradition   says,  trust,   but    before    he    got    through    his 

Mr.  John    Treat    Crane,  a  great-grand-  prayer  herself  and  all  the  congregatioa 

sonof  Governor  Treat,  presided  with  great  melted  down,  and  the  sermon  filled  the 

admiration.     On  each  side  of  the  pulpit  house  with  groans  and  tears.    The  next 

was  a  large  square  pew ;  one  was  occupied  time  he  came,  as  soon  as  he  entered  the 

by  the  minister's  family  and  the  other  by  pulpit,   the   assembly  were  weeping.     It 

such  families  as  by  a  kind  of  general  con-  was  so  great  that  the  pulpit  window  was 
sent  were  regarded  as  the  aristocracy  of    taken  out,  and  he  preached  through  the 

the  town.    An  aged  man  tells  me  how  window  to  the  people    in    the    burying 

well  he  remembers  the  figure  which  the  ground." 


248  PEESENT   CHUKCH   ERECTED. 

cliurcli"  was  undertaken  in  earnest.  Tlie  subscription 
agreed  upon  was  immediately  filled  to  tlie  amount  of 
^2000,  a  site  was  selected,  materials  brought  together 
and  trenches  for  the  foundations  actually  dug.  But 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  just  at  that  time,  frus- 
trated the  plan ;  it  was  abandoned,  and  the  materials 
provided  were  soon  scattered  and  lost.* 

But  the  war  was  now  ended ;  and  the  affairs  of  the 
congregation  being  once  more  in  a  prosperous  state, 
the  good  design  was  resumed.  The  foundations  were 
commenced  in  the  month  of  September,  1Y87.  Tradi- 
tion informs  me,  that  when  the  appointed  day  came, 
the  male  members  of  the  congregation  assembled 
on  the  ground,  and  took  their  stations  according  to 
age  and  office.  The  pastor  standing  at  the  north- 
east corner  made  a  short  address  and  offered  a  prayer. 
Then  he  broke  the  ground,  by  taking  out  with  his 
own  hand  the  first  spadeful  of  earth.  Deacon  Caleb 
Wheeler,  standing  by  his  side,  took  the  next,  and  then 
the  rest  followed  in  their  turns  till  the  whole  were  at 
work,  and  the  opening  of  the  trenches  was  completed 
in  a  few  hours.  The  erection  of  this  large  and  beau- 
tiful edifice,  a  very  serious  undertaking  for  the  people 
as  they  were  then  situated,  was  due  in  a  great  measure 
to  the  indomitable  zeal  and  perseverance  of  Dr.  Mac- 

*  It  was  to  stand  on  "school-house hill,"  the  bell  on  an  ox  team,  and  buried  it  in 

that  is,  as  I  learn,  on  the  south  side  of  the  woods  known  as  the  "  short  swamps," 

Market  street  west  of  Broad,  where  was  near  the  highway   now  known  as  Elm 

then  a  considerable   elevation.     Dr.  M.  street,  and  about  a  mile  from  Mulberry 

says,  the  people  were  not  perfectly  agreed  street.    When  the  peace  was  resto  red,  the 

about  the  location.    On  the  breaking  out  good  Deacons  disinterred  the  concealed 

of  the  war,  it  is  said,  the  Deacons, — Caleb  treasure  and  brought  it  to  town  again,  and 

Wheeler  and  Ebenezer  Baldwin,— loaded  probably  used  it  for  the  bene  fit  of  the  new 

all  the  metal  which  had  been  collected  for  edifice. 


NEW   MODE   OF   ELECTING   TKUSTEES.  249 

whorter.  "  So  zealous  was  lie  to  serve  and  animate 
tlie  congregation,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "tliat  during  the 
following  winter,  lie  was  daily  in  the  forests  selecting 
timber  which  had  been  given  him,  and  encouraging 
the  workmen."  And  when  we  consider  how  the  work 
was  carried  on,  namely,  by  joint  contributions  of  labor 
and  materials  from  the  whole  congregation,  it  is  truly 
wonderful,  that  an  edifice  of  such  beauty  of  propor- 
tions and  completeness  of  finish  should  have  been 
accomplished.*  Truly  it  stands  a  noble  monument, 
both  "  of  the  generosity  and  public  spirit  of  the  so- 
ciety," and  not  less  "  of  the  love  and  indefatigable  ex- 
ertions" of  one  of  the  most  illustrious  of  its  pastors.f 
The  house  was  ready  for  permanent  use,  and  first  reg- 
ularly opened  for  public  worship  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  1791.  J 

A  few  years  after  the  completion  of  this  edifice,  viz., 
in  the  year  1794,  the  change  was  made  to  which  I 
have  already  alluded,  in  the  mode  of  electing  the 
Trustees  under  the  charter.  The  Session  to  whom  the 
whole  power  was  intrusted  by  that  instrument,  en- 
gaged to  call  together  the  congregation  on  the  first 

*  Dr.  Macwhorter  himself,  with  an  air  t  Funeral  Sermon,  p.  23. 

of   exultation   by    no  means  to  be  ceu-  t  A  tablet  inserted  in  the  front  wall  of 

sured,  thus  describes  it :  "  Its  dimensions  the  tower  bears  the  following  inscription^ 

are  one  hundred  feet  in  length,  including  said  to  have  been  written  by  Hon.  Wm. 

the  steeple,  which  projects  eight  feet.    The  Peartree  Smith. 

steeple  two  hundred  and  four  feet  high ;  ^dem  banc  amplissimam  cultui  Diviko 

two  tiers  of  windows,  five  in  a  tier  on  each  dicatam,  ex  animo  religioso  et  munificen- 

side;  an  elegant  large  Venetian  window  tia  valde  pricclara,  Nov  Arc.e  habitantes, 

in  the  rear  behind  the  pulpit,  and  the  cura  sub  pastorali  rev.   Alexandri  Mac. 

whole  finished  in  the  inside  in  the  most  whorter,    S.   T.   D.  primum   qui   posuit 

handsome  manner  in  the  Doric  order."  saxum,  construxerunt,  anno  salutis,  1787  ; 

"From  the  best  estimate  lean  obtain,"'  Amer.  Reipub.  Ftederatjc  12.    Aospicante 

he  adds,  "  it  cost  about  £'9000  York  cur  Deo,  loxocm  perduuet  in  ^vum. 
rency." 


250  CHUECH   IN   BLOOaiFIELD   FORMED. 

day  of  January  annually,  for  the  purpose  of  clioosing 
such  men  as  a  majority  of  its  members  should  prefer, 
and  agreed  to  confirm  their  aj)pointment.  And  the 
practice  has  conformed  to  this  arrangement  to  the 
present  time. 

In  the  year  1T94,  the  first  preliminary  steps  were 
taken  for  forming  another  Presbyterian  Church  within 
the  boundaries  of  Newark,  viz.,  in  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Bloomfield,  then  distinguished  by  the  name  of 
Wardsesson."^^  Apj^lication  for  this  purpose  was  made 
to  the  Presbytery  by  "  a  number  of  the  members  of 
the  congregations  of  Newark  and  Orange,  and  some 
other  people  in  that  vicinity ;"  and  the  reason  alleged 
was  "  that  many,  by  reason  of  their  distance  from  any 
place  of  public  worship  and  other  difficulties,  were 
unable  to  attend  statedly  upon  the  administration  of 
the  word."  A  committee  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  applicants,  and  also  with  members  of  the  two  pa- 
rent societies,  reported  that  "  the  committees  from  New- 
ark and  Orange  being  fully  heard,  made  no  objection 
to  the  measure,  but  in  a  very  christian  manner  ex- 
pressed their  concurrence."  Whereupon  the  Presbytery 
proceeded  to  erect  the  petitioners  "  into  a  distinct  con- 
gregation of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  by  the  name  of 
the  "Third  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  township  of 
Newark."  The  petition  was  signed  by  ninety-eight 
heads  of  families ;  but  how  large  a  portion  of  them 
went  out  from  this  congregation  I  have  not  the  mean? 
of  determining. 

*  See  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York. 


HIGH  STAia)mCT   OF   DR.    MACWHORTER.  251 

I  have  already  spoken  of  Dr.  Macwliorter's  useful- 
ness to  the  Church  generally,  and  the  high  place  which 
he  occupied  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  breth- 
ren during  the  earlier  period  of  his  ministry  in  this 
Church.  The  same  is  true,  in  a  still  more  eminent  de- 
gree, during  the  later  period.  In  the  prosperity  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  of  whose  Board  of  Trus- 
tees he  was  a  member  from  his  fii'st  election  in  1'7'72, 
till  his  death,  and  whose  friends  had  at  one  time  fixed 
their  eyes  upon  him  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
President,  he  took  a  warm  and  active  interest.  In  the 
Spring  of  1802,  at  the  advanced  age  of  68  years,  he 
undertook  a  mission  to  New  England,  to  solicit  bene- 
factions on  its  account — the  College  edifice  ha\dug  then 
recently  been  destroyed  by  fii'e — and  was  successful  in 
procuring  more  than  $7000  for  the  repairing  of  the 
loss.'^  For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Synod's  committee  for  the  distribution  of  the  sums  ap- 
propriated for  the  education  of  "  poor  and  pious  youth" 
in  that  institution.  Indeed,  almost  all  the  principal 
committees  appointed  at  this  period,  are  found  to  con- 
tain his  name.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  skillful  peace- 
maker, and  therefore  was  often  commissioned  with 
others  to  adjust  difficulties  as  they  arose  in  different 
parts  of  the  Presbyterian  body.  Of  the  committees 
which  arranged  a  Plan  of  Union,  or  an  agreement  to 
hold  an  annual  convention  by  delegates,  with  the  Con- 
sociated  Churches  of  Connecticut  in  1767,  and  a  fra- 
ternal connection  with  the  Dutch  and  Associate  Re- 

*  Dr.  GriflBn's  Funeral  Discourse,  pp.  10,  25. 


252  GENERAL   ASSEMBLY    CONSTITUTED. 

formed  Churches  in  1785,  lie  was  a  member,  and  was 
often  appointed  by  tlie  Synod  to  conduct  its  corres- 
pondence with  foreign  bodies* 

"  He  never  appeared  in  his  might,"  says  Dr.  Griffin, 
"  so  perfectly  as  in  a  deliberative  assembly,  especially 
when  his  cautious  and  penetrating  mind  had  leisure 
to  examine  well  the  bearings  of  the  subject.  Thor- 
oughly versed  in  all  the  forms  of  Presbyterial  busi- 
ness, with  a  skill  at  management  rarely  surpassed, 
he  filled  a  great  space  in  the  judicatories  of  our  Church. 
His  voice  was  listened  to  with  profound  respect,  and 
the  counsels  suggested  by  his  superior  wisdom  enlight- 
ened and  swayed  our  public  bodies." 

In  the  year  1'788,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
held  its  first  annual  meeting.  The  purpose  of  forming 
it  began  to  be  entertained  in  the  Synod  as  early  as  the 
year  1785.  After  long  deliberation  and  revision,  the 
plan  was  adopted ;  and  the  Presbyteries  having  been 
rearranged  and  the  whole  body  divided  into  four 
Synods,  the  Assembly  was  appointed  to  meet  at  the 
time  above  specified,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and 
the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  was  dis- 
solved. In  the  arrangements  for  the  formation  of 
this  body.  Dr.  Macwhorter  had  a  principal  agency.f 

*  See  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  New  next  meeting  to  be  inserted  in  our  direc- 

York  and  Philadelphia,  pp.  373,  505,  508.  tory."    I  find  no  traces  ot  its  introduction 

■j-  While  the  plan  was  under  considera-  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod,  but  it  is  re- 

tion  in  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  in  the  corded  at  length  in  those  of  the  Presby- 

month  of  May,  1788,  a  committee  of  that  tery,  and  is  curious   as   indicating   the 

body,  of  which  Dr.   M.  was   chairman,  views  entertained  at  that  time  on  a  very 

brought  in  the  draught  of  a  chapter  on  important  point  of  Christian  duty.   Among 

the  reciprocal  duties  of  ministers  and  peo-  the  duties  of  the  minister  we  find  the  fol- 

ple,  "to  be  laid  before  the  Synod  at  their  lowing:  he  "shall  ordinarily  preach  to  his 


GENERAL    ASSEMBLY   CONSTITUTED. 


253 


His  name  stands  second  on  a  committee,  of  which  Dr. 
Witherspoon  was  chairman,  to  whom  was  committed 
"  the  Book  of  Discipline  and  Government,"  "  with  pow- 
ers to  digest  such  a  system  as  they  shall  think  to  be 
accommodated  to  the  state  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  America;"  he  was  also  appointed  on  the 
committee  to  vevise  the  Westminster  Directory  of 
Worship;  and  he  exerted  a  prominent  influence  in 
allaying  the  dissatisfaction  which  in  some  cases  arose 
out  of  the  proposed  measures.*  He  was  early  chosen 
as  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Assembly,  and  continued 
to  hold  a  place  in  that  Board  till  a  short  time  before 
his  decease. 

Of  the  four  Synods  2")rovided  for  in  the  formation 
of  the  new  body,  that  which  contained  the  Presbytery 


people  twice  on  the  Sabbath,  except  in 
such  congregations  where  it  is  most  proper 
in  the  winter  season  that  there  should  be 
but  one  service."  "  He  shall  visit  the  sick 
and  afflicted  when  sent  for."  Respecting 
pastoral  visitation,  it  is  ordained,  "that  if 
his  congregation  consists  of  not  moie  than 
fifty  families,  he  shall  visit  them  once 
every  year;  if  more  than  fifty,  and  not 
more  than  one  hundred,  he  shall  visit  the 
whole  once  in  two  years ;  if  of  more  than 
one  hundred,  and  not  more  than  two  hun- 
dred, he  shall  visit  the  whole  in  three 
years,"  &c.,  "  in  the  proportion  of  fifty  fam- 
ilies every  year."  Among  the  duties  of 
the  people,  are  those  of  "  due  attendance 
on  public  worship  and  the  catechetical  in- 
struction of  their  minister,"  causing  "  their 
femilies  to  attend  on  the  ministerial  visit- 
ation in  an  orderly  manner,"  and  "  when 
they  are  sick  sending  for  their  minister." 
*  The  Presbytery  of  Suffolk  went  so  far 
as  to  address  a  letter  to  the  Moderator  of 
the  Synod  "praying  that  the  union  be- 
tween them  and  the  Synod  might  be  dis- 
solved." On  hearing  it,  the  Synod  ap- 
pointed Dr.  Macwhorter   to  draw  up*  a 


reply.  It  is  replete  with  Christian  wis- 
dom and  fraternal  affection,  and  deserves 
to  be  read  with  care,  as  a  fine  specimen  of 
Christian  expostulation.  After  answering 
their  alleged  objections  to  the  continuance 
of  their  past  connection,  and  begging  the 
brethren  of  the  Suffolk  Presbytery  to  re- 
consider their  resolution  to  withdraw,  it 
proceeds  as  follows :  "  You  well  know 
that  it  is  not  a  small  thing  to  rend  the 
seamless  coat  of  Christ,  or  to  be  disjoined 
parts  of  that  one  body,  llis  Church.  Wo 
are  all  members  one  of  another;  thero 
should  be  no  schism  in  the  body,  but  we 
should  comfort,  encourage  and  strengthen 
one  another  by  the  firmest  union  in  our 
common  Lord.  We  are  Presbyterians, 
and  we  firmly  believe  the  Presbyterian 
system  of  doctrine,  discipline  and  Church 
government,  to  be  nearer  to  the  word  of 
God  than  that  of  any  other  sect  or  denom- 
ination of  Christians.  Shall  all  other 
sects  and  parties  be  united  among  them- 
selres,  for  their  support  and  increase,  and 
Presbyterians  be  divided  and  subdivided, 
so  as  to  be  the  scorn  of  some  and^  the 
prey  of  others?" 


254  BAPTIST   AND    METHODIST   DENOMINATIONS. 

of  New  York  was  directed  to  hold  its  &st  meeting  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  on  the  29th  of  October,  1788,  and  was  organ- 
ized accordingly  under  the  name  of  the  Synod  of  New 
YoEK  AND  New  Jersey.  With  that  body  this  Church 
remained  connected  till  its  division  by  act  of  the  As- 
sembly in  the  year  1823,  a  period  of  35  years. 

During  the  latter  part  of  Dr.  Macwhorter's  ministry, 
two  new  denominations  of  Christians  became  organ- 
ized in  Newark.  The  origin  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  is  thus  described  by  its  present  pastor :  "A  few 
of  the  members  of  the  Church  at  Lyons'  Farms,  who 
were  living  in  the  town  of  Newark,  obtained  permis- 
sion of  the  Church  to  which  they  belonged  to  hold 
services  in  a  school  house  in  a  part  of  the  town  now 
known  as  South  Broad  street — still  holding  the  rela- 
tion of  a  branch  of  the  Farms  Church.  They  hired 
the  school  house  for  one  year."  On  the  6th  of  June, 
1801,  a  company  consisting  of  nine  persons  "were  con- 
stituted into  a  regular  Baptist  Church,  and  were  soon 
incorporated,  assuming  the  name  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Newark."  Their  first  house  of  worship,, 
erected  in  Academy  street,  was  dedicated  on  the  16th 
of  September,  1806.* 

"  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  no  house  of 
worship  until  the  year  1808.  Previously  to  that  time, 
religious  services  were  held  under  the  direction  of  that 
denomination  with  moi'e  or  less  regularity,  as  far  back, 
it  is  said,  as  1Y99.     Their  places  of  assembling  were 

*  See  Semi-Cent ennial  Sermon,  by  the  Rer.  Henry  C.  Fish,  June,  1851. 


INFLUENCE    OF    DE.    MACWHOETEE.  255 

first  tlie  old  Court  House,  wliicli  stood  opposite  tlie 
site  of  tlie  First  Presbyterian  Cliurcli,  and  the  building 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  long  known  as  the 
White  School  House.  The  Eev.  David  Bartine  is 
spoken  of  as  having  preached  the  first  sermon  ever 
delivered  in  this  place  by  a  Methodist."  In  1808,  the 
number  of  persons  had  increased  to  fourteen,  at  which 
time  "  the  design  of  building  a  Methodist  church  in 
the  town  of  Newark  was  adoj^ted,"  and  the  first  Meth- 
odist house  of  worship,  called  Wesley  Chapel,  was 
dedicated  the  following  summer.* 

Dr.  Macwhorter's  influence  on  this  community  was 
distinguished  for  its  strength  and  permanence.  I  have 
already  referred  to  three  remarkable  seasons  of 
awakening  in  the  congregation  during  his  ministry.  A 
fourth  occurred  in  the  year  1796,  in  consequence  of 
which  thirty  or  forty  persons  were  added  to  the 
Church ;  and  still  a  fifth,  in  the  year  1802,  the  particu- 
lars of  which  I  omit  to  mention  here,  as  it  perhaps  be- 
longs more  properly  to  the  ministry  of  his  successor. 
He  presided  over  the  congregation  during  some  of  the 
most  eventful  periods,  was  associated  in  his  work  with 
some  of  the  most  eminent  men  that  have  l^elonged  to 
it,  and  has  done  more  perhaps  than  any  one  else  to 
impress  the  features  of  his  own  character  upon  its  his- 
tory. When  he  dejiarted  this  life,  most  of  •the  church 
whom  he  left  were  his  spiritual  children,  and  a  large 
proportion  of  them  had  received  baptism  in  their 
childhood  at  his  hands.  "  He  had  lived,"  as  he  said, 
"  to  see  two  worlds  die." 

*  Oommunicated  by  the  Rev.  S.  Y.  Monroe,  present  pastor  of  the  Clinton  street 
Methodist  Church. 


256  CHAKACTER   OF   DR.    MACWHORTER. 

Tlie  cliaracter  of  Dr.  Macwhorter,  if  not  remarkably 
brilliant,  was  certainly  distinguisbecl  for  its  strength. 
His  aspect,  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "  was  grave  and  venerable, 
and  strongly  expressive  of  tbe  properties  of  liis 
mind.  His  deportment  was  affectioftate,  paternal  and 
dignified ;  calculated  to  inspire  respect  and  depend- 
ence, and  to  repel  the  approach  of  presumptuous  fa- 
miliarity ;  yet  in  conversation  he  was  pleasant,  and 
often  facetious."  His  judgment  was  ever  sound,  his 
penetration  keen,  his  perseverance  indomitable,  his  ac- 
tivity deliberate,  but  always  well-directed,  and  there- 
fore generally  successful.  He  is  reported  to  have  been 
an  excellent  classical  scholar,  with  some  knowledge  of 
the  Hebrew  and  Syriac  languages.  Well  read  in  di- 
vinity, he  understood  the  foundations  on  which  his 
faith  rested.  With  a  firm  adherence  to  the  doctrines 
of  his  own  Church,  he  was  little  disposed  to  contend 
with  those  who  differed  from  him  in  their  religious 
opinions.  An  aged  man  tells  me,  that  when  some 
preachers  of  another  denomination  began  to  hold 
meetings  in  his  parish,  and  some  of  his  elders  came  to 
him  in  alarm  to  consult  what  was  to  be  done,  he  re- 
plied in  terms  often  used  by  men  of  wise  Christian 
moderation,  "  let  them  alone ;  we  must  out-preach 
them,  and  out-pray  them,  and  out-live  them,  and  so 
they  cannot  do  any  harm."*  As  a  preacher,  he  is  said 
to  have  been  "  pungent  and  popular"  in  the  early  part 
of  his  ministry ;  but  in  the  latter  part,  when  his  ardor 
was  abated,  his  preaching  was  instructive,  "  solid,  judi- 

*  Mr.  Isaac  Nichols,  now  the  oldest  member  of  the  Sessioa. 


LAST   DAYS    OF   DE,    jVIACWHORTER.  257 

cious,  and  often  moving."  "In  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  in  all  his  parochial  labors,  he  added  to 
faithfulness  great  method  and  punctuality ;  and  with  a 
uniformity  peculiar  to  himself,  was  always  the  same." 
He  was  a  good  pastor,  loved  his  people,  and  delighted 
to  make  their  interests  his  own. 

During  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  his  growing  infirm- 
ities required  the  aid  of  a  colleague  in  the  pastoral 
office.  In  the  month  of  October,  1800,  "a  call  from 
the  First  Presbyterian  congregation  in  Newark  for  Mr. 
Henry  Kollock  to  undertake  the  pastoral  office  in  the 
said  congregation  as  a  colleague  and  assistant  minister 
with  Dr.  Macwhorter  was  laid  before  the  Presbytery 
by  Judge  Boudinot,  a  delegate  from  said  congregation." 
This  call  Mr.  Kollock  declined,  and  was  afterwards 
settled  at  Elizabethtown.  During  the  year  following, 
the  want  was  su])plied,  as  we  shall  hereafter  notice 
more  particularly,  by  the  installation  of  the  Rev.  Ed- 
ward D.  Grriffin. 

As  his  life  drew  towards  the  close,  Dr.  M.  had  a  strong- 
desire  to  reviiit  the  scene  of  his  nativity ;  and,  in  the 
Spring  of  1806,  made  an  excursion  to  Delaware  for 
that  purpose.  All  was  clianged.  He  was  dependent 
on  the  information  of  strangers,  in  learning  where  was 
the  spot  in  which  his  infancy  was  nurtured.  An  old 
half-filled  cellar  was  the  only  trace  of  it.  None  knew 
him,  none  remembered  him,  and  only  one  aged  person 
had  retained  any  recollection  of  the  family.  "  He  re- 
quested only  to  be  supplied,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "  with  a 
glass  of  water  from  the  spring  that  used  to  slake  his 
boyish  thirst,  that  he  might  say,   '  I  have  tasted  that 

17 


258  LAST   DAYS    OF   DK.    MACWHOETER. 

spring  again ;'  and  this  desire  fulfilled,  lie  hastily 
turned  and  left  the  scene  forever."  About  seven 
months  before  his  death,  he  received  a  severe  injury 
from  a  fall,  from  which  he  never  recovered.  He  took 
leave  of  the  Presbytery,  in  a  letter  excusing  his  ab- 
sence, in  the  month  of  April,  1807.""'  The  short  inter- 
val which  remained  was  one  of  severe  afiiiction.  Shut 
out  from  the  sanctuary,  and  disabled  for  the  duties  it 
had  long  been  his  delight  to  perform,  he  saw  his 
youngest  son  suddenly  removed,  by  a  disease  so  rapid 
in  its  course  that  ere  the  news  of  his  illness  could  reach 
the  aged  and  eflfeebled  parents,  he  was  numbered  with 
the  dead.  Then  the  companion  of  his  life,  with  whom 
he  had  shared  all  its  vicissitudes  for  nearly  fifty  years, 
closed  the  scene  of  her  sufteriugs,  and  stepped  into  the 
grave  before  him.  Mrs.  Macwhorter  died  on  the  second 
day  of  April,  1807. 

But  the  faith  which  this  venerable  patriarch  had  so 
long  professed  and  preached,  showed  its  power  to  sus- 
tain his  own  soul  amidst  all  his  complicated  afilictions. 
When  his  son  was  smitten  to  the  grave,  like  Aaron, 
the  good  old  man  held  his  peace  ;  and  when  the  mother 
followed,  her  death  served  but  to  sever  the  last  tie  that 
bound  him  to  earth,  and  make  him  also  ready  to  be 
gone.  His  last  words  breathed  an  entire  confidence  in 
God's  faithfulness.     He  said,  "I  die  slow."     "I  have  no 


*  See  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  sions,  expressing  an  apprehension  that  on 

York,  under   date   of  April,   1807.     "A  account  of  his  declining  health,  he  might 

message  was  received  from  Dr.  Macwhor-  not  be  able  to  meet  with  them  more,  and 

ter  by  Mr.  Grifiin,   informing  the  Pres-  communicating  to  them  his  paternal  and 

bytery  that  he  was  prevented  by  indispo-  aflfectionate  salutations." 
sition  from  attending  their  present  ses- 


DEATH   AND   FUNEEAL.  259 

despondency ;  death  and  I  have  long  been  intimates." 
"  Blessed  be  God,  I  have  a  steady  hope."  After  join- 
ing in  prayer  with  his  young  colleague,  on  whom  the 
duties  of  his  sacred  office  were  now  exclusively  to  de- 
volve, and  on  whom  he  had  already  bestowed  his  pa- 
ternal blessing,  he  extended  both  his  arms  at  full 
length  towards  heaven,  and  then  suffi^ring  them  to  fall 
quietly,  expired  without  a  struggle,  on  the  20th  day  of 
July,  1807,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  yeara  and  five 
days.  *, 

"  Thus  lived  and  thus  died,"  adds  his  eulogist,  "  Dr. 
Alexander  Macwhorter,  after  having  served  this  peo- 
ple in  the  gospel  ministry  forty-eight  years."  Who 
will  not  join  in  the  review,  his  fervent  ejaculation, 
"  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my 
last  end  be  like  his." 

The  death  of  Dr.  Macwhorter  created  a  profound 
sensation  in  the  community  of  which  he  had  so  long 
been  an  honored  member.  The  next  day  the  Trustees 
of  the  Church  met  at  the  house  of  their  President, 
Hon.  Elisha  Boudinot,  and  passed  resolutions  as 
follows : 

"  It  having  pleased  the  all-wise  Head  of  the  Church 
to  remove  from  earth,  and  take  to  Himself,  our  late 
worthy  and  resi:>ected  pastor,  the  Rev.  Doctor  Alexan- 
der Macwhorter,  this  board,  in  order  to  manifest  the 
gratitude  they  feel  for  his  long,  faithful  services 
amongst  us,  and  the  high  respect  they  entertain  for  his 
memory,  do  unanimously  resolve — 

"  That  they  will  take  the  charge  of  his  funeral  on 
themselves,  and  that  the  same  shall  be  conducted  in 


260  FUJJEKAL   SOLEMNITY. 

sucli  a  manner  as  to  reflect  credit  on  tlie  Cliurcli,  as 
well  as  to  express  tlie  feelings  which  they  are  certain 
the  whole  congregation  entertain,  on  this  melancholy 
occasion."* 

They  also  resolved,  that  the  pulpit  and  other  parts 
of  the  church  be  hung  with  black,  and  the  Session  and 
Trustees  wear  crape  on  their  left  arm  during  three 
months.  A  committee  being  appointed  to  carry  these 
resolutions  into  effect,  expresses  were  sent  to  invite 
every  member  of  the  Presbytery,  in  New  York  and 
this  State,  with  other  clergymen  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  neighboring  towns ;  and  the  procession  for  the 
funeral  was  ordered  as  follows : 

"  1.  Rev.  Mr.  Griffin  and  two  clergymen.  2.  Corpse 
and  pall-bearers.  3.  Physicians.  4.  Members  of  the 
famil}^  5.  Session  of  the  Church  as  mourners.  6. 
Trustees  as  mourners.     Y.  Clergy.     8.  Inhabitants." 

The  funeral  took  place  on  the  22d  of  June,  1807, 
and  the  sermon,  afterwards  published  by  request  of 
the  trustees,  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Griffin,  col- 
league and  successor  of  the  deceased,  from  Psalm  112  : 
6 — "The  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remem- 
brance." A  marble  tablet  was  afterwards  inserted  in 
the  wall,  on  the  inside  of  the  church,  near  the  pulpit, 
where  Ave  now  find  it,  bearing  a  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  the  deceased,  written,  it  is  said,  by  the  same  hand, 
in  the  following  terms : 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Macwhoetee,  D.  D.     In  him  a  venerable  aspect  and 

See  Record. 


EPITAPH.  261 

dignified  manners  were  united  witli  a  strong  and  saga- 
cious mind,  richly  stored  with  the  treasures  of  ancient 
and  modern  learning.  For  a  long  course  of  years,  he 
was  among  the  most  distinguished  supporters  of  liter- 
ature and  religion  in  the  American  church.  He  was  a 
zealous  asserter  of  his  country's  rights,  a  wise  counsel- 
lor, a  pious  and  skillful  divine,  a  laborious,  pi'udent 
and  faithful  minister,  and  a  great  benefactor  of  the 
congregation  over  which  he  presided  forty-eight  years. 
To  his  influence  and  zeal  the  congregation  is  greatly 
indebted  for  this  house  of  God,  the  foundation-stone 
of  which  he  laid,  Sept.,  178Y.  In  gratitude  for  his 
distinguished  services,  and  from  an  aftectionate  respect 
to  his  memory,  the  bereaved  Church  have  erected  this 
monument.  He  was  born  15th  July,  1734.  He  de- 
parted this  life  20th  July,  180*7,  aged  73  years.  The 
memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 


DISCOUESE    NIJMBEE   IV. 

EcCLESiASTES  i :  4.    One  generation  passeth  away,  and  another  generation  cometh. 

As  I  annnounce  tliis  passage  for  the  fourtli  time,  as 
tlie  tlieme  of  my  discourse,  and  remember,  that  I  have 
already  dm^ing  these  few  weeks,  passed  over  in  review, 
and  endeavored  to  live  for  the  moment  in  the  lives  of 
eight  successive  generations  of  ministers  who  have  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit  here,  and  ministered  to  the  congre- 
gation in  which  I  now  stand,  an  indescribable  awe 
takes  possession  of  me.  I  seem  to  see  sweeping  on 
before  me,  "the  innumerable  caravan"  of  which  the 
poet  speaks,  "  that  moves" 

"  To  that  mysterious  realm  where  each  shall  take 
Their  stations  in  the  sUent  halls  of  death." 

and  I  cannot  forget  that  I,  and  you  too,  my  beloved 
hearers,  are  treading  with  them  in  the  same  long  pro- 
cession. As  we  are  now  full  of  life  and  activity,  look- 
ing back  with  eager  interest  to  learn  the  history  of 
the  past,  and  forward  with  hope  and  enthusiasm  to 
anticipate  the  better  days  that  may  be  coming,  or  re- 
coil before  the  prospect  of  evils,  the  signs  of  which  we 
think  we  already  discern  in  the  horizon,  so  were  they, 
each  in  his  own  period ;  and  each  in  turn  filled  the 


EEV.    EDWAED   DOKR   GRIFFIN.  263 

world  and  time  with  his  own  consciousness.  And  as 
they  have  passed,  one  after  another  into  the  land  of 
silence,  I  seem  to  hear  a  still  voice  gently  breaking 
that  silence,  and  saying  to  you  and  me  "  Whatsoever 
thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might,  for  there 
is  no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom,  in 
the  grave  whither  thou  goest." 

We  j)ass  now  to  the  tenth  in  order  in  the  succession 
of  pastors,  namely  the  Eev.  Edward  Dorr  Griffin,  a 
name  associated  with  some  of  the  fnost  thrilling  events 
in  American  ecclesiastical  history,  and  destined  to  be 
remembered  with  honor  and  affection  as  long  as  dis- 
tinguished talents  well  directed  are  accounted  valuable, 
or  ardent  zeal  and  warm-hearted  piety  held  in  admira- 
tion in  the  Church. 

Mr.  Griffin  was  born  in  East  Haddam,  Connecticut, 
Jan.  6,  1770.  His  father,  Mr.  George  Griffin,  was  a 
wealthy  farmer,  of  a  strong  mind  and  good  education ; 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eve  Dorr, 
was  a  sister  of  Kev.  Edward  Dorr,  of  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, whose  name  she  gave  to  her  son. 

From  a  very  early  age,  Mr.  Griffin's  parents  des- 
tined him  to  the  ministry ;  and  while  yet  a  child  of 
only  four  or  five  years,  he  was  the  subject  of  deep 
religious  impressions.  But  though  once  and  again 
strongly  exercised  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  once 
to  such  an  extent,  as  to  venture  for  a  time  to  hope  he 
was  a  true  Christian,  his  conversion  does  not  appear  to 
have  taken  place  till  after  the  close  of  his  course  in 
college,  when  he  had  abandoned  the  purpose  with 
which  his  early  training  and  his  parents'  wishes  had 


264  EARLY   LIFE   OF   MR.    GRIFFIN. 

inspired  him,  and,  according  to  Ms  own  account  "  de- 
voted himself  to  the  law,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  be 
a  man  of  the  world." 

The  means  of  awakening  him  to  a  just  sense  of  his 
spiritual  need,  was  a  severe  illness  with  which  he  was 
overtaken  in  the  gayest  period  of  his  life.  Having 
given  his  heart  to  God,  he  now  resolved  to  resume  his 
original  purpose,  and  devote  himself  to  the  service  of 
Christ  in  the  w^ork  of  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Griffin  graduated  with  the  first  honors  of  his 
class  at  Yale  College,  in  1*790,  became  a  member  of 
the  Church  in  Derby  in  the  Spring  of  1T92,  and 
having  pursued  his  theological  studies  under  the  di- 
rection of  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  son  of  the  first  Pres- 
ident Edwards,  at  New  Haven,  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  Gospel  by  the  Association  of  New  Haven  West, 
on  the  31st  of  October,  1792.  On  the  10th  of  No- 
vember following,  he  preached  his  first  sermon,  and 
having  supplied  several  pulpits  for  a  larger  or  shorter 
period,  in  New  Salem,  Farmington,  Middlebury,  and 
other  places,  in  one  of  which  he  received  and  accepted 
a  call,  but  did  not  actually  settle,  he  was  ordained  as 
pastor  of  the  Church  in  New  Hartford,  June  4,  1^95. 
On  the  l'7th  of  May,  1796,  he  was  married  to  Frances 
Huntington,  daughter  of  Kev.  Joshua  Huntington,  D.  D., 
of  Coventry,  and  adopted  daughter  of  her  uncle,  Gover- 
nor Samuel  Huntington,  of  Norwich,  Connecticut.  He 
remained  in  New  Hartford,  carrying  on  the  work  of 
the  ministry  with  great  success,  till  some  time  in  the 
year  1800,  when  he  took  a  journey  on  account  of  his 
wife's  health,  and  spent  the  winter  following  in  the 


INSTALLATION   IN   NEWAEK.  265 

vicinity  of  Newark.  The  people  of  Orange,  wliere  lie 
preached  during  a  part  of  this  period,  and  where  fifty 
persons  were  added  to  the  Church  under  his  ministra- 
tions, were  desirous  of  inviting  him  to  become  their  pas- 
tor, but  on  the  reception  of  a  call  from  the  First  Church 
in  Newark,  his  2)astoral  relation  to  the  Church  in  New 
Hartford  w^as  dissolved,  and  he  was  installed  as  col- 
league pastor  with  Dr.  Macwhorter,  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  York,  on  the  20th  of  October,  1801,  in  the 
thirty-second  year  of  his  age.  Dr.  Macwhorter  pre- 
sided. Dr.  McKnight  preached  a  sermon  from  2  Cor. 
ii:  16,  the  last  clause,  and  Dr.  Rodgers  gave  the 
charge  to  the  people.* 

Dr.  Griffin  took  the  charge  of  this  congregation  in 
the  full  spirit  of  a  new  era  in  the  Church's  history, 
which  he  fully  l)elieved  began  to  dawn  about  the 
time  of  his  entrance  upon  the  ministry,  and  was  des- 
tined to  culminate  only  in  the  meridian  of  millenial 
glory.  This  belief  he  lost  no  opportunity  of  express- 
ing in  the  strongest  terms.  "In  the  year  1*792,"  said 
he,  "three  series  of  events  commenced,  which  needed 
not  a  fourth  to  fill  the  earth  with  the  knowledge  of 
glory  of  the  Lord.  First,  the  series  of  missionary  and 
charitable  efforts.  The  first  missionary  society  in 
modern  times  was  established  that  year,  in  Kittering, 
in  England.  Secondly,  the  series  of  revivals  of  reli- 
gion. The  first  in  this  continuous  succession,  com- 
menced that  year.  I  had  the  privilege  of  witnessing  it 
myself,  and  know  assuredly  that  no  intermission  has 

*  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York. 


266  ANEVfATESTG   PRESAGES. 

occurred  from  tliat  day  to  this.  Thirdly,  the  series  of 
judgments  intended  to  destroy  the  nations  which  had 
given  their  power  and  strength  to  the  beast."  "  These 
three  series,"  said  he,  in  1817,  "have  been  widening 
and  rising  higher  duiing  every  year."  That  year, 
"  1792,"  was  a  year  from  which  to  reckon  dates  in  his 
computations  of  the  progress  of  religion,  all  his  life. 
You  might  know  the  year  of  our  Lord,  in  which  many 
of  his  most  celebrated  public  discourses  were  written, 
from  the  numl:)er  of  years,  mentioned  as  having  passed 
since  the  commencement  of  the  great  and  glorious 
change  which  seemed  to  fill  all  his  anticipations.  Add 
the  number  mentioned  to  the  number  1792,  and  you 
have  uniformly  the  exact  date  in  the  ordinary  compu- 
tation. 

The  consideration  of  this  fact,  as  it  seems  to  me,  is 
indispensible  to  a  correct  understanding  of  the  true 
character  of  this  illustrious  man's  career  as  a  Christian 
minister.  This  belief  acting  upon  a  lively  imagination, 
an  enthusiastic  temperament,  a  powerful  intellect  and 
an  affectionate  and  devoutly  pious  heart,  is  the  true 
key  to  many  of  the  peculiar  excellencies,  and  to  what 
some  may  be  disposed  to  mention  as  the  peculiar  de- 
fects of  his  character  and  actions.  It  nerved  his 
strength,  it  fired  his  eloquence,  it  animated  his  hopes 
anew,  when  his  heart  would  otherwise  have  sunk 
under  discouragement,  it  made  him  bold  in  discarding 
obsolete  customs,  and  regardless  of  trifling  difficulties, 
in  carrying  into  effect  what  he  considered  as  the  best 
measures  for  the  conversion  of  men,  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.      In  the   ardor  of 


ANOIATTNG   PRESAGES.  '207 

youtlitul  iuexperienoe,  it  may  have  sometimes  led  liim 
to  place  too  low  au  estimate  upon  the  labors  of  those 
who  went  before  him.  It  led  him  to  speak  of  his  own 
history  and  experience ;  not  so  much  in  the  spirit  of 
self  exaltation,  as  in  order  to  testify  in  the  eai*s  of 
all  men,  to  what  his  own  eyes  had  seen  of  the  wonder- 
ful works  of  God. 

The  present  is  not  the  time  or  the  place  to  discuss 
the  correctness  of  this  belief,  nor  to  show  how  it  came 
to  pass  that  the  hopes  of  those  g®od  men  that  shared 
it  have  experienced  a  degree  of  disappointment.  Un- 
questionable it  is,  that  the  period  to  which  it  had 
reference,  was  distinguished  by  a  most  remarkable 
series  of  efforts,  having  in  view  the  spread  of  the  gos- 
pel through  the  world ;  and  a  most  remarkable  series 
of  religious  impidses  in  which,  from  place  to  place,  the 
Spirit  of  God  seemed  marching  in  his  strength,  and 
pouring  out  without  measure  his  converting  intiuences. 
With  these  impulses  Dr.  Griffin's  whole  ministry  was 
in  an  eminent  de£:ree  identitied.  Ilis  own  new  birth 
lay  among  the  very  beginnings  of  them,  and  one  of 
the  earliest  decisive  manifestations  of  their  power,  as 
he  supposed,  was  in  his  own  fother  s  house.  ''  I  saw 
the  darkness,"  said  he,  "before  the  dawn."  ''I  saw 
the  Held  of  death  before  the  bones  began  to  move." 
No  sooner  did  he  begin  to  preach,  than  converts  began 
to  be  numbered  by  hundreds.  This  was  the  case  in 
New  Salem,  when  he  wiis  preaching  there  before  his 
ordination.  It  was  the  ci\se  in  East  Hartford  during 
his  ministry  of  five  years  in  that  place,  and  in  Orange, 


268  RELIGIOUS    EXPERIElSrCES. 

where  lie  spent  tlie  winter  just  before  his  invitation  to 
Newark. 

Nor  was  tlie  case  different  after  lie  became  the  pas- 
tor of  this  Church.  His  ministry  here,  though  barren 
of  external  incidents,  was  exceedingly  rich  in  spiritual 
fruits.  I  have  already  spoken  of  a  revival  of  religion, 
which  occurred  during  the  next  year  after  he  entered 
upon  his  pastoral  duties.  It  continued  two  years,  and 
about  a  hundred  and  thirty  persons  were  in  conse- 
(|uence  of  it  added  to  the  Church  on  profession,  of 
whom  one  hundred  were  received  in  the  course  of 
twelve  months.  We  shall  notice  other  cases  of  the 
same  kind  as  we  proceed. 

In  the  Sj^ring  of  1803,  Dr.  Griffin's  own  mind  was 
the  subject  of  some  memorable  religious  exjDeriences. 
"  As  I  was  walking  in  the  streets  of  Newark,"  says  he, 
"  pondering  upon  my  sins,  a  flash  of  light  came  across 
my  mind,  sending  home  a  con^dction  of  sin  which  in- 
stantly deprived  me  of  hope.  The  following  dialogue 
then  took  place  with  myself:  "Well,  go  to  Christ  as 
you  direct  others  to  do.  But  He  is  away  beyond  the 
hills,  and  I  cannot  get  to  him.  Well,  ask  Him  to 
bring  you  to  him.  But  the  j)rayers  of  the  unregen- 
erate  cannot  ascend  above  the  clouds.  I  have  nothing 
to  stand  upon  to  begin."  "  I  felt  then,"  says  he,  "  to- 
tally undone,  helpless  and  hopeless.  I  died  then  as 
Paul  did  on  the  plains  of  Damascus.  Instantly  the 
scene  changed.  I  was  composed  in  a  moment,  and 
seemed  to  lie  down  at  God's  feet,  and  rest  every  issue 
on  His  will  without  a  struggle."  "This,"  he  said, 
speaking  of  the  case  long  afterwards,  "  I  have  learned 


mTERVIEW    WITH    RICHARDS.  269 

from  tlie  reflections  of  seven  and  twenty  years,  to  call 
tlie  dernier  resort."  The  event  changed  the  whole 
character  of  his  experiences  and  preaching,  and  made 
them  permanently,  as  he  declares,  "more  full  of  Christ." 
About  this  time  Dr.  Griffin  was  in  the  habit  of 
making  preaching  tours  in  the  neighborhood  of  New- 
ark, and  even  to  a  considerable  distance  in  the  sur- 
rounding region,  leaving  the  pulpit,  1  presume  for  the 
time,  in  the  care  of  his  venerable  colleague.  In  one  of 
these  excm-sions,  he  met  with  Mr,  Richards,  Avho  sub- 
sequently became  his  successor,  and  with  him  spent 
the  night  in  j^leasant  and  mutually  j^rofitable  religious 
conversation.  Mr.  Griffin  expressed  doubts  as  to  his 
own  piety,  and  lamented  that  he  always  found  it  diffi- 
cult for  him  to  feel  that  he  deserved  eternal  punish- 
ment. Richards  replied,  that  Christians  obtain  this 
sense  by  seeing  that  God  is  so  unspeakably  lovely, 
that  no  conceivable  punishment  is  great  enougli  for 
sinnmg  against  Him ;  and  that  he  had  himself  seen 
God's  holiness,  purity  and  justice  to  be  so  glorious, 
that  it  appeared  that  if  men  should  never  commit  an 
outward  sin,  they  would  deserve  to  be  eternally 
damned  for  not  loving  him."  In  the  course  of  this 
conversation.  Griffin  obtained  a  new  view  of  the 
divine  holiness,  its  "purity,  grandeur,  awfulness  and 
sweetness."  "  I  saw,"  says  he  "  that  I  had  been  search- 
ing for  deliverance  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  room,  in 
seeking  a  sense  of  the  evil  of  sin,  from  examining  what 
I  had  done,  rather  than  what  God  is."  Then  they 
turned  to  discourse  upon  the  atonement.  Griffin  again 
unburdened  his  heart,  and  spoke  of  a  difficulty  he  had 


270  THE   PAESONAGE   HOUSE. 

found  in  apprehending  Christ  as  a  proper  substitute. 
Whereupon  Kichards  disclosed  to  him  a  distressing 
conflict  which  he  had  formerly  had  on  that  point,  and 
which  was  quieted  hy  a  transporting  view  of  Hebrews 
vii:  26;  "For  such  an  high  priest  became  us,  who  is 
holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from  sinners,  and 
made  higher  than  the  heavens."  At  this,  the  agitation 
of  Grifl^n's  mind  become  relieved,  and  he  fell  asleep. 
"  When  I  awoke,"  he  adds,  "  that  same  glorious  High 
Priest  was  before  me,  just  as  He  is  expressed  in  He- 
brews vii:  26."  Such  was  the  early  Christian  inter- 
course of  these  two  eminent  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
whose  labors  in  the  capacity  of  sower  and  reaper  in 
the  same  field,  were  destined  to  mingle  their  results  in 
the  world  of  blessedness.  And  what  influence  even 
this  casual  conversation  may  have  had,  in  shaping  the 
character,  and  determining  the  eternal  state  of  hun- 
dreds in  this  congregation,  will  be  known  only  by  the 
disclosures  of  the  last  day. 

The  present  parsonage  house,  on  Mulberry  street, 
was  built  about  this  time,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  junior  pastor  and  his  family.  The  old  one  was  a 
stone  building  of  two  stories  high,  and  stood  upon  the 
west  side  of  Broad  street,  a  little  below  the  corner  of 
William  street.  The  date  of  its  erection  I  have  not 
been  able  to  determine.  The  land  on  which  the 
present  house  stands  was  purchased  of  the  Rev.  Aaron 
Burr,  about  the  time  he  left  Newark,  and  up  to  the 
time  now  referred  to,  had  been  used  as  a  pasture  for 
cattle.  In  the  days  of  Mr.  Griffin  and  his  immediate 
successors,  the  grounds  about  the  house  were  exten- 


REVIVAL   OF    1807.  271 

sive,  and  the  garden  spacious.  Tlie  house  was  first 
occupied  in  the  summer  of  1804,  of  which  event  I  find 
the  following  notice  in  the  pastor's  journal,  in  the  form 
of  a  prayer  for  the  divine  blessing :  "  O  God,  may  this 
new  habitation  be  the  scene  of  peace  and  of  heavenly 
communion  for  years  to  come.  Here,  in  retirement 
from  the  world,  may  we  cultivate  the  sweets  of  do- 
mestic enjoyment  and  the  calm  delights  of  religion, 
while  we  enjoy  the  innocent  amusements  of  the  gar- 
den, and  contemplate  the  beauty  of  Thy  works."  The 
garden  alley  in  which  he  was  accustomed  to  walk,  he 
endeavored  to  consecrate,  as  he  tells  us,  to  divine  med- 
itation.* 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Griflin,  as  in  that  of  his 
predecessors,  there  was  no  Sabbath  School,  and  no 
lecture  room  for  the  accommodation  of  week  dav 
meetings.  The  pastor  catechised  the  childi^en  in  the 
church,  in  school  houses,  or  at  their  homes,  and  prayer 
meetings  were  held  in  similar  circumstances.  The 
weekly  evening  lecture  had  not  then  been  established. 

In  the  Spring  of  1807  commenced  a  very  powerful 
effusion  of  divine  influences.  A  deep  impression  had 
been  made  upon  the  congregation,  by  the  death  of 
Dr.  Macwhorter,  and  it  was  confirmed  and  made  more 
intense  through  the  labors  of  the  Eev.  Gideon  Black- 
burn, who  preached  here  several  times  with  great  ear- 
nestness. Nothing  extraordinary  appeared  however, 
till  early  in  September.  The  Friday  previous  to  the 
administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  was  observed  as 

*  Several  large  trees  now  standing  on  are  a  venerable  weeping  willow  in  front  of 
the  parsonage  ground,  are  said  to  h;ive  the  house,  and  a  tall  and  partly  decayed 
been  set  out  by  Dr.  Griffin.    Among  them     magnolia  tree  iu  the  garden. 


2*72  EEVIVAL   OF   1807. 

a  day  of  special  fasting  and  prayer,  in  wliicli  the  con- 
gregation at  Orange  joined.  The  attendance  on  the 
meeting  on  that  occasion  was  unusually  full,  and  the 
services  of  the  Sabbath  were  peculiarly  solemn.  The 
next  morning,  as  appears  from  the  account  given  by 
Judge  Boudinot,  in  almost  every  house  into  which  the 
pastor  entered  in  making  his  customary  visits,  the 
family  appeared  like  Cornelius  of  old,  ready  to  receive 
the  word  of  truth,  and  soon  melted  into  tears.  "  It 
was  not  long,"  says  the  same  eminent  authority,  "  be- 
fore the  blessed  work  j^ervaded  every  part  of  the  so- 
ciety. No  age  was  exempted.  We  have  had  instances 
of  persons,  between  sixty  and  eighty,  some  of  whom 
had  led  moral  lives,  and  trusted  they  were  going  to 
heaven,  who  were  brought  to  see  that  they  were 
wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and 
naked."  God  also  in  his  sovereign  mercy,  was  pleased 
to  ordain  praise  from  the  mouth  of  infants.  The  pas- 
tor maintained  frequent  lectures  during  the  week,  be- 
sides meetings  of  private  societies  in  different  parts  of 
the  village.  His  pastoral  visitations  were  frequent, 
and  productive  of  signal  benefit.  "  This  work,"  said 
he,  "in  point  of  power  and  stillness,  exceeds  all  that  1 
have  ever  seen."  Judge  Boudinot  testified  to  the  same 
fact.  "  Although  our  church  has  been  crowded,"  says 
he,  "  I  have  frequently  shut  my  eyes  for  the  experiment, 
and  I  should  not  have  known  that  there  was  a  person 
in  the  house  but  the  speaker  and  myself,  from  any 
thing  I  heard."  "  Our  opposers,"  he  adds,  "  have  been 
outrageous.  Some  have  attributed  it  to  human  means, 
although  I  believe  there  never  was  an  awakening  in 


L 


DE.    GKIFFm's   EEMOVAX.  2*73 

which  there  was  less  reason  for  human  boasting  or 
23ride  to  rest  upon.  Our  blessed  Saviour  seemed  to 
take  the  work  into  His  own  hands,  to  wear  the  crown 
and  receive  all  the  glory." 

Among  the  means  of  carrying  on  the  work  of  piety, 
in  use  at  this  time,  was  a  society  of  Christian  laymen, 
formed  just  at  the  beginning  of  the  events  referred 
to,  for  the  purpose  of  united  prayer  for  the  Divine 
blessing  on  the  labors  of  the  pastor,  and  called,  in  al- 
lusion to  the  upholding  of  Moses's  hands  during  the 
war  with  Amalek,  "  the  Aaron  and  Hur  Society."  Nor 
was  the  sacred  influence  confined  to  a  single  congrega- 
tion. It  was  felt  in  Orange  and  Newark  at  the  same 
time,  and  during  the  month  of  March,  ~  1808,  ninety- 
seven  persons  joined  the  Church  in  Newark,  and 
seventy-two  that  in  Orange.  The  whole  number  added 
to  this  Church  in  consequence  of  that  revival  is  sup- 
j^osed  to  be  between  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  two 
hundred  persons. 

But  Dr.  Griffin's  ministry  in  this  Church,  recent  as  it 
was,  was  now  drawing  to  a  close.  As  early  as  the 
year  1805,  he  had  been  invited  to  leave  his  post,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of  the  First  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  in  Albany  ;  but  that  call,  though  it  cost 
him  no  little  doubt  and  perplexity,  ha  at  length  judged 
it  his  duty  to  decline.  But  now,  two  invitations,  hav- 
ing both  peculiar  claims,  pressing  themselves  simulta- 
neously upon  his  attention — the  one  to  the  chair  of 
Pulpit  Eloquence  in  the  Theological  Seminary  in  An- 
dover,  and  the  other  to  become  the  stated  preacher  in 
the  new  church  in  Park  street,  Boston — the  path  of 

18 


2*74:  FAEEWELL   SEEMOjS-. 

duty  seemed  plain  ;  and,  having  first  obtained  tlie  con- 
sent of  liis  people,  lie  was  released  from  his  pastoral 
charge  in  April,  1809,  and  took  a  solemn  leave  of  his 
flock  in  a  farewell  sermon  on  the  28th  of  May  follow- 
ing. The  text,  from  which  he  preached  on  this  occa- 
sion, was  Acts  XX :  32 — "And  now,  brethren,  I  com- 
mend you  to  God,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which 
is  able  to  Iniild  you  up  and  to  give  you  an  inheritance 
among  all  them  which  are  sanctified."  "  I  had  hoped,*' 
he  says,  "  to  be  permitted  to  go  hand  in  hand  with 
you  to  the  grave,  to  attend  some  of  my  brethren  in 
their  chambers  of  death,  to  die  at  last  in  your  arms,  to 
be  buried  among  my  dear  Church,  and  to  rise  with 
them  in  the  resurrection.  One  year  ago,  I  thought 
nothing  but  death  could  divide  us.  But  God  had  a 
difl:erent  purpose.  You  have  seen  it,  and  owned  it, 
and  submitted  to  it,  with  a  sj^irit  of  meekness  which 
has  done  honor  to  your  Christian  profession.  Through 
the  whole  of  this  trial,  you  have  given  me  no  other 
reproaches  but  your  tears.  From  you,  as  a  congrega- 
tion, I  have  never  received  a  single  act  of  unkindness. 
On  the  contraiy,  you  have  protected  me  Avheii  I  haA^e 
been  assailed ;  you  have  spread  yourselves  before  me 
as  a  shield ;  you  have  carried  me  in  your  arms  to  the 
throne  of  grace.  If  I  forget  this  kindness,  let  my 
right  hand  forget  its  cunning." 

During  the  eight  years  of  his  ministry  in  this  con- 
gregation, less  than  two  of  which  he  was  the  sole  pas- 
tor, sixty-two  persons  were  received  into  the  Church 
from  other  Churches,  and  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  on  a  profession  of  their  faith.     When  he  came 


SUBSEQUENT   LIFE.  275 

here,  tlie  Chiircli  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  two 
members,  one  hundred  and  forty  of  whom  were  alive 
when  he  left  it.  During  his  ministry,  the  number  had 
more  than  doubled,  including,  when  he  took  his  dis- 
mission, five  hundred  and  twenty-two  persons. 

The  subsequent  career  of  Dr.  Griffin  belongs  to  other 
histories  than  that  of  this  congregation.  But  his  old 
people  did  not  forget  him,  nor  he  them,  when  he  was 
I'emoved  from  their  connection.  "When  the  tongue  of 
slander  assailed  him,  in  the  high  and  perilous  station  to 
which  he  was  transferred,  they  came  warmly  to  his 
rescue,  bore  their  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  his 
character,  assured  him  of  their  continued  affection  and 
confidence,  reminded  him  of  the  calumnies  which  had 
been  borne  by  other  servants  of  Jesus,  and  even  their 
Lord  himself,  and  bade  him  not  be  discouraged,  but 
set  his  face  like  a  flint  and  hold  out  to  the  end.  And 
when,  in  the  providence  of  God,  he  returned  to  New- 
ark to  occupy  another  pulpit  and  stand  in  other  and 
somewhat  delicate  relations  to  them,  both  they  and 
their  new  pastor  maintained  towards  him  the  kindest 
feelings,  and  enjoyed  with  him  the  most  fraternal  in- 
tercourse. 

Dr.  Griffin  left  Newark,  May  29th,  1809,  carrjdng 
with  him  five  young  men  who  had  consecrated  them- 
selves to  the  Avork  of  the  ministry  under  his  influence^ 
and  were  now  desirous  of  availing  themselves  of  his 
instructions  in  his  new  sj^here  of  service.  He  was  in- 
augurated to  the  office  of  Professor  in  Andover,  on 
the  21st  of  June,  and  held  that  station  two  years 
preaching  at  the  same  time  on  the   Sabbath  to  the 


2'r6  DEATH    OF   DE.    GEIFFUS-. 

cliurcli  in  Boston.  But  finding  it  impossible  to  fulfill 
tlie  duties  of  both  offices,  lie  resigned  his  Professorship 
and  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Park  street  Church, 
Boston,  July  31st,  1811.  In  the  summer  of  1815,  he 
left  Boston,  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  this  city,  where  he  remained  about 
six  years.  In  October,  1821,  he  assumed  the  Presi- 
dency of  Williams  College,  whose  duties  he  discharged 
with  eminent  success  about  fifteen  years.  And  now, 
the  evening  of  life  drawing  on,  he  returned  to  Newark, 
to  which  he  still  looked  amidst  all  his  changes,  as  the 
home  of  his  affections  ;  and,  becoming  an  inmate  of  his 
eldest  daughter's  family,*  he  passed  the  little  remnant 
of  his  days  in  domestic  love  and  cheerfulness,  and  died 
in  hope,  November  8, 1837,  in  the  68th  year  of  his  age. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  in  this  house,  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Spring,  of  New  York,  to  a  very  large  assem- 
bly, and  his  remains  lie,  by  the  side  of  those  of  his  ex- 
cellent wife,  who  went  to  her  rest  just  before  him,  in 
Mount  Pleasant  Cemetery,  on  the  borders  of  Newark. 
Dr.  Griffin's  chai^acter,  both  as  a  man  and  a  minister, 
has  been  drawn  by  an  able  hand,  and  to  that  picture  I 

*  Since  writing:  the  abore,  I  hare  occa.  acquaintance.    Her  piety  was  sinoere  and 

sion  to  record  the  lamented  death  of  this  ferrent,  and  her  works  of  benevelence  un- 

excellent  and  accomplished  lady.    She  was  tiring.      It  was  by  efforts  of  Christian 

born  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  April  4, 1801,  and  kindness  in  ministering  to  a  dying  stran- 

married  at  Williamstown,  Mass.,  to  Dr.  ger  that  she  contracted  the  disease  which 

Xyndon  A.Smith,  Nov.  20, 1823.  Kemoving  closed  her  valuable  life.    Her  funeral  so- 

with  her  husband  to  Newark  in  1827,  she  lemnities  were    attended    in    the   house 

soon  after  connected  herself  with  the  First  where  she  had  so  long  been  accustomed 

Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  she  contin-  to  worship,  and  a  numerous  concourse  of 

ued  a  devoted  and  eminently  useful  mem-  friends  testified  by  their  tears  how  greatly 

ber  till  her  decease,  Jan.  11, 1852.    The  and   how  extensively  she  was   beloved, 

genius  and  intellectual  attainments  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Griffin  left  two  daughters,  the  younger 

Smith  were  of  a  high  order.    Gentle,  un-  of  whom    married    to  the  Rev.   Robert 

assuming,  warm-hearted,  and  uucensori-  Crawford  of  North  Adams,  Mass.,  is  still 

ous,  she  was  eminently  endeared  to  all  her  living. 


CnAEACTER   OF   Dli.    GEIFTIN.  21 1 

must  refer  yon.*  He  was  a  man  of  large  stature,  botli 
in  body  and  mind,  his  person  being  in  lieiglit  six  feet 
and  tliree  inclies,  and  in  every  respect  finely  propor- 
tioned. His  reasoning  powers  were  acnte,  liis  imagina- 
tion soaring,  his  elocution  impressive.  In  his  habits  of 
study  and  action,  he  was  systematic  and  persevering, 
always  endeavoring  to  perform  well  whatever  he  un- 
dertook. In  the  social  circle,  he  was  easy  and  com- 
panionable. In  the  ordinary  intercourse  of  life,  kind, 
generous,  uncensorious  and  forgiving.  He  was  simple- 
hearted  and  unsuspecting  as  a  child ;  and  with  a  warm 
and  sanguine  temper,  together  with  a  much  better  un- 
derstanding of  human  nature  in  its  broad  general  fea- 
tures, and  of  the  ordinary  avenues  to  the  human  heart 
and  conscience,  than  knowledge  of  the  ways  of  the 
world  and  the  sophistries  of  artificial  life,  he  sometimes 
adopted  measures  which  gave  offence  when  he  did  not 
dream  of  it,  and  was  exposed  to  uncharitable  construc- 
tions in  his  most  guileless  and  innocent  actions.  Hence 
he  had  some  warm  friends,  and  some  bitter  enemies. 
In  his  religious  intercourse  as  a  pastor.  Dr.  Griffin  had 
a  remarkable  facility.  He  attached  great  importance 
to  pastoral  visitations.  I  have  already  referred  to  his 
success  in  this  department  of  service,  during  the  great 
revival.  Judge  Boudinot  speaks  of  it  as  having  been 
more  blessed  than  his  public  sermons.  A  distinguished, 
manufacturer  in  this  city,f  who  sat  under  his  ministry 
Avhile  he  was  pastor  of  the  Second  Church,  has  told 
me  that  he  used  to  insist  on  having  all  the  apprentices 

*  See  memoir  of  Dr.  GriflSn,  by  Dr.  t  William  Rankin,  Esq; 

Sprague,  of  Albany. 


278  EEV.    JAMES    RICHAEDS. 

in  Ms  large  establisliment  called  in,  when  lie  came  to 
the  house  on  a  pastoral  visit,  and  would  converse  spe- 
cially with  them  all,  one  after  another,  on  the  subject 
of  personal  religion.  But  it  was  in  the  pulpit,  and  as 
a  preacher  chiefly,  that  Dr.  Griffin  attained  the  highest 
eminence.  His  voice  was  remarkably  flexible,  and 
was  perfectly  under  his  own  control.  On  the  deep 
guttural  tones,  it  thrilled  you  like  the  pedal  notes  of 
an  organ  ;  yet  it  could  soften,  with  perfect  ease,  to  suit 
the  sentiment  to  be  ex]^)ressed,  into  the  gentlest  and 
most  soothing  utterances.  His  style  was  free,  not  ex- 
act ;  and  though  he  wrote  his  discourses,  his  manner 
in  the  pulpit  was  unembarrassed,  and  his  gestures  fre- 
quent and  efl:ective.  There  is  said  to  have  been  great 
inequality  in  his  ordinary  discourses,  as  indeed  there  is 
in  those  which  have  been  given  to  the  public.  But  his 
preaching  was  ever  glowing  with  divine  truth  earnestly 
expressed,  and  in  his  best  efibrts  there  was  much  to 
justify  even  the  strong  expression  which  has  been  ap- 
plied to  him — "  the  prince  of  American  preachers." 

The  removal  of  Dr.  Griffin  from  Newark,  in  1809, 
did  not  leave  the  flock  to  which  he  had  ministered, 
without  a  shepherd.  Already  his  successor  was  on  the 
ground  with  his  family,  and  prepared  to  assume  the 
charge  as  soon  as  he  should  relinquish  it. 

The  Eev.  James  Richards  was  the  next  pastor  of 
this  Church.  He  was  born  at  New  Canaan,  Conn., 
October  29, 1767.  He  was  the  son  of  James  Richards, 
a  farmer  of  excellent  character,  and  a  descendant  of 
Samuel  Richards,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
Wales,  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.     His  mother 


MR.   KICIIARDS's   EARLY   LIFE.  2*79 

was  Rutli  Ilanford,  a  most  excellent  Christian  woman, 
and  pecniiarly  skilled,  it  is  said,  in  the  management  of 
her  children.  She  was  a  woman  of  vigorous  intellect, 
and  many  commanding  as  well  as  endearing  qualities. 
James  was  the  eldest  of  nine  children ;  feeble  in  body 
during  his  childhood,  but  remarkable  even  then  for  his 
fondness  for  study.  When  only  thirteen  years  of  age, 
he  undertook  the  charge  of  a  common  district  school, 
and  with  such  success,  as  to  secure  the  offer  of  the 
same  post  for  the  second  time.  It  was  his  early  wish 
to  obtain  a  public  education ;  but  as  his  father  was  not 
prepared  to  encourage  and  sustain  the  attempt,  he  ap- 
prenticed himself  at  the  age  of  fifteen  to  the  business 
of  cabinet  and  chair-making,  together  Avith  house  paint- 
ing, in  which  capacity  he  labored  for  a  short  time  in  a 
cabinet  maker's  shop  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Richards  had  been  religiously  educated,  'and 
like  Griffin,  was  the  subject  of  deep  religious  impres- 
sions in  his  childhood.  But  at  the  age  of  nineteen, 
convictions  of  sin  broke  in  upon  him,  as  he  relates, 
in  the  midst  of  mirth  and  levdty.  The  pangs  of 
his  soul  were  very  sharp  for  three  days,  after  which 
he  obtained  relief  in  the  apprehension  of  an  all-suffi- 
cient Saviour,  from  reading  the  impressive  sentiments 
of  the  thirty-eighth  Psalm,  as  para23lirased  by  Dr. 
Watts.  He  was  made  to  see,  as  he  testifies,  his  own 
impotence,  whereas  before,  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
suppose  the  whole  matter  of  conversion  was  in  his  own 
hands ;  and  was  alarmed  in  view  of  the  enmity  which 
he  now  felt  in  his  heart  towards  God.  But  at  lens^th 
his  heart  melted,  and  the  salvation  which  he  before 


280  ME.    EICHAEDS'S   EAELY   LIFE. 

hated  loecame  liis  joy  and  Ms  song.  "I  was  born  an 
Arminian,"  said  lie,  "  and  lived  an  Arminian,  but  ob- 
stinate freewiller  as  I  was,  I  was  at  length  brought  to 
'  lick  the  dust '  at  God's  footstool,  and  accept  of  salva- 
tion by  grace." 

Mr.  Richards's  own  conversion  was  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  earnest  efforts  on  his  part  for  the  conversion 
of  others,  and  such  was  the  zeal  and  fervor,  with 
which  he  pursued  this  object,  and  especially  the  free- 
dom he  displayed  in  speaking  at  meetings  of  confer- 
ence and  prayer,  that  in  the  low  state  into  which  reli- 
gion had  at  that  day  fallen  in  his  native  region,  it 
excited  some  surprise,  and  was  the  occasion  of  many 
remarks. 

He  united  with  the  Church  in  Stamford,  Conn.,  on 
the  I'rth  of  September,  1786,  and  immediately  began 
to  look  forward  with  strong  desires  to  the  work  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  With  many  discouragements  and 
interruptions,  he  completed  his  preparatory  studies 
through  the  assistance  of  two  excellent  female  relatives, 
and  entered  Yale  College  in  the  year  1T89.  But,  at 
the  close  of  his  freshman  year,  his  studies  were  inter- 
rupted, first  by  want  of  pecuniary  means,  which  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  College,  and  afterwards  by  severe 
illness;  so  that,  although  his  diligence  and  persever- 
ance overcame  most  of  the  obstacles  of  a  private  edu- 
cation, he  did  not  go  through  College  with  his  class, 
but  received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  out  of 
course,  in  the  year  1*794.  In  the  year  1T93,  he  was  li- 
censed to  preach  the  gospel  by  an  association  in  Fair- 
field county,  Connecticut,  and  having  preached  for  a 


MINISTEY   AT   MOEEISTO'WT^.  :2S1 

time  in  Wilton,  and  tlien  in  Ballston,  Sliolter  Island 
and  Sag  Harbor,  lie  commenced  tlie  work  of  tlie  min- 
istiy  in  Morristown  in  June,  1794,  and  was  ordained 
as  pastor  of  tlie  Church  in  that  place,  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  York,  on  the  first  of  May,  1795.  Dr. 
Macwhorter  preached  the  ordination  sermon,  from 
Acts  XX :  24.  Dr.  Eodgers  jDresided,  and  Mr.  Austin 
gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 

About  the  time  when  he  received  license  to  preach, 
young  Eichards,  it  is  said,  passed  through  Newark, 
and  called  at  the  parsonage  with  an  introduction  to 
Dr.  Macwhorter.  But,  being  a  stranger,  somewhat 
diffident  and  little  used  to  society,  his  manners,  it  is 
likely,  did  no  justice  to  his  real  character.  Dr.  Mac- 
whorter seemed  to  regard  him  ^viih.  little  favor,  sub- 
jected him  to  a  rather  severe  examination,  spoke  some- 
what sternly  of  his  apprehended  deficiencies,  and  sent 
him  away  with  a  discouraged  and  sorrowful  heart.  It 
was  his  testimony,  however,  in  later  life,  as  I  am  told, 
that  the  interview,  trying  as  it  was,  did  him  good,  and 
was  a  lesson  to  him  in  regard  to  his  future  intercourse 
with  young  men. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Richards  in  Morristown  was 
signally  successful.  It  was  a  difficult  and  laborious 
station,  but  his  diligence  and  wisdom  surmounted  all 
obstacles,  and  the  excellences  of  his  character  secured 
for  him  univei'sal  love  and  respect.  In  three  memora- 
ble instances,  his  labors  were  attended  with  peculiar 
manifestations  of  Divine  influence,  first  in  the  vear 
1701,  again  in  1803  and  '4,  and  lastly,  in  a  manner 
more  remarkable  than  in  either   of    the   former  in- 


282  REMOVAL    TO    NEWAEK. 

stances,  in  1808.  In  tlie  last  instance,  between  seventy 
and  eighty  persons  were  converted,  who  united  with 
the  Cliurch  in  that  and  the  following  year. 

Meanwhile,  the  ex23enses  of  Mr.  Kichards's  family 
were  increasing,  and  his  salary  had  become  inadequate 
to  supply  their  wants.  Many  of  tlie  people  saw  this, 
and  acknowledged  it,  and  several  attempts  were  made 
to  remedy  the  evil,  but  without  success.  This  result 
was  a  severe  trial  to  him.  It  mortified  him  exceeding- 
ly, and  at  first  j^reyed  upon  his  spirits.  But  he  wisely 
resolved  not  to  dwell  upon  the  dark  side  of  the  pic- 
ture, but  to  give  himself  anew  to  the  duties  of  his 
ministry,  to  serve  God  and  his  people  with  all  his 
strength,  and  wait  for  the  further  movements  of  God's 
providence.  Nor  did  he  want  long.  The  applications 
which  were  made  to  him,  after  the  removal  of  Dr. 
Grifiin,  to  take  the  charge  of  the  Church  in  Newark 
were  urgent,  and  sustained  by  what  appeared  strong 
reasons.  The  people  of  Morristown  came  to  the  res- 
cue, by  providing  cheerfully  for  an  increase  of  his  sal- 
ary. But  it  was  too  late.  Other  reasons  had  come  to 
light  in  favor  of  his  removal ;  he  had  already  given 
the  people  here  some  encouragement ;  and,  when  a  call 
was  unanimously  offered  him,  the  path  of  wisdom  and 
duty  seemed  plain,  and,  with  the  consent  and  appro- 
bation of  the  Presbytery,  he  accej^ted  it,  and  his  con- 
nection with  the  Cliurch  in  Morristown  was  dissolvecL 

Mr.  Eichards  was  installed  as  pastor  of  this  Church 
on  the  7th  of  June,  1809.  Dr.  Eomeyn,  of  New  York, 
preached  the  sermon,  from  Acts  xxiv:  24,  25.  Dr. 
Rowe  presided  and  gave  the  charge,  and  Dr.  Miller,  of 


PRESBYTERY   OF   JERSEY.  283 

Princeton,  gave  the  exhortation  to  the  people.  It  i\Y>- 
pears,  from  an  entry  in  his  journal,  that  the  perform- 
ances were  peculiarly  excellent  and  a])propriate,  and 
were  heard  with  no  small  degree  of  feeling,  and  with 
universal  approbation.  "It  was  under  a  strong  con- 
viction of  duty,"  he  records,  "  that  I  took  leave  of  my 
people  at  Morristown  and  accepted  the  call  to  this  peo- 
ple. The  Lord  grant  that  I  may  not  Le  left  to  myself." 
He  delivered  his  introductory  sermon  on  the  12th  of 
June,  from  I."  Corinthians,  iv :  1,  i^. 

A  few  months  after  the  installation  of  Dr.  Richards, 
viz.,  on  the  1-1  th  of  November,  1809,  the  Presbytery 
of  New  York,  with  which  this  Church  had  been  con- 
nected ever  since  its  formation  in  IT 38,  a  period  of 
seventy-one  years,  was  di\'ided  into  two,  by  erecting  a 
portion  of  its  Churches  into  a  new  Presbytery  bearing 
the  old  name,  and  changing  the  name  of  the  remaining 
portion,  of  which  this  Church  was  one,  into  "The 
Presbytery  of  Jersey."  Its  first  meetins:  under  the 
new  arrangement,  was  held  in  Morristown,  April  24th, 
1810.* 

The  First  Church  had  been  hitherto,  during  nearly 
a  century  and  a  half,  the  only  Presbyterian  Church  in 

*  The  Presbytery  of  Jersey  was  not  a  constituted  a  Presbytery  by  the  name  of 
new  body,  but  the  Presbytery  of  PCew  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  &C.  Ixesolvcd 
York  under  a  new  name ;  and  that,  as  further,  That  the  remaining  part  of  the 
I  have  already  had  occasion  to  notice,  was  Presbytery  of  New  York  be  hereafter 
a  continuation  of  the  ancient  I'resbytery  known  by  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of 
of  East  Jersey,  formed  in  the  year  1733.  Jersey.'  Whereupon,  H'.suhed,  That  as 
This  the  record  shows.  "  The  following  the  present  Moderator  is  one  of  the  mem- 
extract  from  the  Minutes  of  Synod  was  bers  set  oflf  to  the  new  Presbyter_v,  Mr. 
received  and  read :  'That  so  much  of  the  Hillyer  be  appointed  Moderator  of  this 
Presbytery  of  New  York  as  lies  on  the  Presbytery  to  come  into  office  on  the 
east  side  of  Hudson  river,  Ac,  and  so  second  Tuesday  in  January  next."  See 
much  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  as  Minutes  of  Prea.  of  Jersey, 
lies  west  of  Hampstead  Plains,  Ac,  be 


284  PLAN   FOR    NEW    CHURCHES. 

tlie  town  of  Newark,  except  those  of  Orange  and 
Bloomfield,  wliicli  liacl  now  become  sej)arate  towns. 
But  the  time  had  come,  when  the  need  of  greater 
facilities  for  the  accommodation  of  a  laro;e  and 
growing  population,  was  manifest  to  all.  Accordingly, 
as  early  as  the  Spring  of  1809,  about  the  time  of  Dr. 
Griffin's  dismission,  the  business  of  church  extension 
was  entered  upon  with  commendable  zeal  and  enter- 
prise. At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  held  in  this 
house,  April  8th,  incipient  steps  were  taken  to  that 
effect,  and  a  large  committee  was  appointed  to  draw 
a  plan.  The  committee  reported  at  an  adjourned 
meeting,  on  the  18th  of  the  same  month.  Whereupon 
"  it  was  resolved,  that,  from  this  congregation,  a  separate 
and  distinct  congregation  should  be  set  off,  and  meas- 
ures taken  to  invest  it  with  all  the  powers  and  privi- 
leges of  a  body  politic."  For  the  encouragement  and 
promotion  of  the  design,  it  was  also  resolved,  that 
when  the  new  congregation  should  have  become  incor- 
porated and  have  built  a  meeting  house,  not  less  than 
fifty  feet  by  seventy  on  its  base,  in  a  good  and  substan- 
tial manner,  and  should  have  called  and  settled  a  min- 
ister, this  congregation  would  convey  to  them,  with 
the  reserve  only  of  their  own  house  of  worship  and 
the  land  occupied  by  it,  two-sevenths  of  their  real  es- 
tate for  the  support  of  the  gos^iel  forever. 

At  the  same  time,  as  it  was  plainly  perceived  that 
the  day  was  not  ffir  distant  when  even  this  provision 
would  be  insufficient  to  meet  the  wants  of  a  rapidly 
increasing  population,  the  congregation  proceeded,  with 
a  liberality  and  forethought   which   can  not  be  too 


PLAN   FOR   NEW    CHURCHES.  285 

mucli  admired,  to  agree  that  whenever  it  should  be 
deemed  advisable  to  establish  a  third  Church,  the 
same  provisions,  subject  to  the  same  conditions,  should 
])e  made  for  the  furtherance  of  that  enterprise. 

Some  difference  of  opinion  seems  to  have  existed  at 
this  time,  as  to  the  place  where  the  second  Church 
should  be  located  ;  the  people  both  in  the  north  and 
the  south  end  of  the  town  claiming  the  preference. 
To  accommodate  this  dispute,  it  was  determined  by 
vote  of  the  majority,  that  the  people  of  the  south  end 
should  have  the  first  opportunity;, provided,  however, 
til  at  if  they  should  not  proceed  immediately  to  the 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship,  and  have  the  walls 
raised  "  as  his-h  as  the  water  table"  within  six  months 
from  the  date  of  the  resolution,  the  obligation  to  divide 
the  property  in  their  favor  should  be  void ;  and  that 
thereupon  the  people  of  the  north  end  might  commence 
the  work,  with  the  promise  of  the  same  privileges, 
provided  they  should  have  advanced  to  the  same  point, 
in  the  course  of  nine  months  from  the  close  of  the  first 
period. 

Accordingly,  the  people  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town  commenced  the  work,  and,  by  the  end  of  the 
time  specified,  had  fulfilled  the  conditions  on  which 
they  were  entitled  to  the  first  claim.  But  just  at  that 
point,  the  zeal  of  the  people  m  that  neighborhood  was 
diverted  into  another  channel,  the  enterprise  was  sus- 
pended, the  design  failed,  and  the  materials  which  had 
been  collected  were  at  length  dispersed. 

After  waiting  through  the  remainder  of  that  year, 
the  people  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  began  to 
make  arrangements  for  building  a  Church  in  their  own 


286  SECOND    PEESPYTEEIAN    CHURCH. 

neigliborliood.  Tlie  corner-stone  of  tlie  present  Second 
Presbyterian  Clmrcli  was  laid  on  tlie  I7tli  of  June, 
1810,  by  tlie  Rev.  Samuel  Whelpley ;  and,  tlie  edifice 
having  been  completed  and  dedicated,  tlie  Trustees 
cbosen,  and  tbe  Rev.  Hooj^er  Gumming,  son  of  one  of 
tlie  leading  members  of  tlie  new  congregation  and  a 
former  pupil  of  Dr.  Griffin  at  Andover,  ordained  and 
installed,  ninety-three  persons  were  dismissed  in  a 
body  with  recommendations  from  tliis  C/hurcb,  on  the 
9th  of  October,  1811,  and  organized  into  a  new  Church 
on  the  8th  of  November  followino:. 

The  conditions  of  the  resolutions  of  1809  being  now 
fulfilled,  on  the  part  of  the  Second  Church,  this  con- 
gregation deemed  themselves  obligated  to  fulfill  their 
part  of  the  engagement;  but,  as  the  di^dsion  of  the 
real  estate  between  the  two  congregations  seemed  not 
expedient  at  that  time,  a  tem23orary  arrangement  was 
agreed  upon,  by  which,  instead  of  the  two-sevenths  of 
the  whole  real  estate,  which  had  been  pledged,  one- 
third  of  the  whole  income  should  be  annually  set 
aj)art  for  the  second  congregation. 

The  whole  transaction,  which  resulted  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  took 
place  with  the  entire  approbation,  and  was  forwarded 
by  the  active  assistance  of  Dr.  Richards.  At  the  ser- 
vice of  organization,  he  delivered  an  address,  founded 
on  the  words  of  Hebrews  xiii :  1 — "  Let  l)rotlierly  love 
continue ;"  in  which  he  affectionately  and  solemnly  re- 
minded the  persons  about  to  be  embodied,  of  their  ob- 
ligations to  God  and  one  another,  and  exhorted  them, 
with  special  earnestness,  to  the  exercise  of  brotherly 


FIRST   SABBATH   SCHOOL.  287 

love.  For  a  little  time,  as  I  am  informed,  tlie  two  pas- 
tors exercised  a  sort  of  joint  ministry  in  tlie  two  con- 
gregations, officiating  in  eacli  otliers  pul^nt  in  the  after- 
noon of  every  SaLbatli ;  but  this  arrangement  being 
found  on  the  Avliole  undesirable,  was  soon  abandoned. 

During  the  ministry  of  IMr.  Richards,  the  iirst  Sab- 
l)ath  School  in  this  congregation  was  established,  under 
the  superintendency,  as  I  am  told,  of  Moses  Lyon,  and 
held  its  meetings,  for  a  time,  in  the  gallery  of  the 
church.  The  first  lecture-room,  a  low  brick  building, 
much  smaller  than  the  present  one,  and  standing  on 
the  same  spot,  was  erected  in  the  year  ISIS."^''  The 
present  pulpit  was  built  in  the  year  1818  ;  and  the  old 
one,  a  small  octagonal  structure,  standing  separate  from 
the  wall  at  a  distance  of  several  feet,  and  surmounted 
by  a  "  sounding  board,"  was  presented  to  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Paterson. 

Dr.  Richards'  ministry,  especially  the  early  part  of 
it,  seems  to  have  been  hardly  less  fruitful  in  conver- 
sions than  that  of  his  predecessor.  About  the  close  of 
the  first  year,  a  few  were  gathered  into  Christ's  fold 
under  its  influence.  But,  between  the  years  1812  and 
1813,  there  was  a  very  marked  revival  of  God's  work. 
It  commenced,  as  we  are  informed  by  his  journal,  in 
the  early  part  of  the  winter.  The  first  Sabbath  in 
January  was  a  day  of  peculiar  solemnity.  In  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Lord's  Supper,  the  declining  afiec- 
tions  of  i^rofessed  Christians  seemed  greatly  revived. 

*  There  is  a  vote  of  the  Trustees,  bear-  purpose  of  lecturint^,  prayer  meetings,  Ac., 

ing  date  April  10,  which  thus  refers  to  the  resolved  that  this  Board  aid  and  assist  in 

propositiou :    "  The  Sessions  being  desir-  the  same." 
ous  of  having  a  large  room  erected  for  the 


288  EEVIYALS. 

Some  souls,  he  records,  have  been  awakened,  and 
others  have  found  joy  and  peace  in  believing.  The 
next  day  intelligence  came  that,  both  in  the  Second 
Church  and  in  the  Church  at  Elizabethtov\m,  a  similar 
manifestation  of  God's  presence  had  been  enjoyed. 
The  coincidence  seemed  to  predict  the  happiest  results. 
An  extract  from  the  same  journal,  under  date  of  Feb- 
ruary 6th,  shows  the  power  and  progress  of  the  Heav- 
enly influence.  "  More  than  seventy  persons  appear 
now  under  serious  impressions,  and  asking  the  way  to 
Ziou.  About  fifteen  are  entertaining  hopes  of  being 
converted,  several  of  the  cases  striking,  and  affording 
a  delightful  prospect."  On  the  28th  of  February, 
twelve  persons  were  propounded  as  candidates  for 
church  membership ;  and  at  the  communion  in  March 
following,  thirteen  were  admitted  on  profession  of  their 
faith.  At  the  same  time,  about  the  same  number  are 
spoken  of  as  indulging  the  hope  that  they  had  recently 
been  born  again,  and  about  ninety  as  still  under  strong 
religious  impressions.  The  means  of  describing  this 
and  other  similar  spiritual  harvests,  which  were  enjoyed 
about  this  period,  are,  unhappily,  exceedingly  scanty. 
There  was  one,  more  remarkable  than  any  of  its  pre- 
decessors, between  the  years  1816  and  1817,  among 
the  fruits  of  which,  sixty-nine  were  added  to  the 
Church  at  one  time  ;  and  the  number  received  during 
nine  months  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  thu*ty-five. 
When  Dr.  Kichards  first  took  the  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation, the  number  of  communicants  was  about 
530,  and,  in  the  course  of  fourteen  years,  556  were 
added  to  it — 332  by  profession,  and  227  by  certificates 


^^'/">a 


y^'^'^-^^  ^  -y'^^^^ 


PREVALENCE  OF  INTEMPEEAK'CE.        289 

from  otlier  churches — making,  in  all,  108G  to  whom,  in 
the  course  of  that  period,  he  statedly  administered  the 
sacred  ordinances.  During  his  ministry,  the  Church 
contained  the  largest  number  of  communicants  that 
ever  belonged  to  it  at  one  time,  viz.,  about  seven  hun- 
dred, and  that,  notwithstanding  the  dismission  of  the 
large  colony  that  united  in  the  formation  of  the  Second 
Church.  It  is  said  to  have  been,  at  the  time  referred 
to,  \nz.,  about  the  year  1817,  the  largest  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States,  except  the  First  Church 
in  Philadelphia.  Six  young  men  connected  with  it 
were,  during  Dr.  Kichards's  ministry,  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel. 

But,  even  this  bright  picture  of  sj^iritual  success,  has 
its  reverse.  The  occasions  for  church  discipline,  during 
the  ministry  of  Dr.  Richards,  were  very  numerous. 
About  thirty  cases  stand  on  record,  as  having  occurred 
within  the  first  seven  years — chiefly  for  the  sin  of  in- 
temperance. That  desolating  pestilence,  which  spread 
so  fearfully  among  the  people  of  our  country  about 
that  period,  and  seemed  to  threaten  the  destruction 
both  of  social  order  and  the  Church  of  God,  diftused 
its  noxious  influences  into  this  favored  communion. 
But  nobly  did  the  pastor  and  Session  meet  the  demands 
of  the  alarming  exigency.  A  very  considerable  por- 
tion of  their  time,  for  several  years,  must  have  been 
taken  up  in  attending  to  cases  of  this  sort.  About 
forly  persons  were,  during  Dr.  Richards's  ministry,  sol- 
emnly deprived  of  church  privileges  for  unchristian 
conduct ;  and  death  and  removals  in  various  ways,  had 


19 


290  DISCOURAGING   APPEAEAISTCES. 

reduced  tlie  number,  at  the  time  when  he  resigned  his 
charge,  to  about  five  hundred  and  twenty. 

The  latter  part  of  this  period  appears  to  have  been 
a  season  of  unusual  discouragement  and  religious  de- 
clension. According  to  a  statement  of  Dr.  Richards 
himself,  during  the  two  years  which  preceded  his  dis- 
mission, only  seven  persons  were  received  into  the 
Church ;  and,  during  five  years,  although  the  congrega- 
tion was  so  large,  only  thirty  made  profession  of  their 
faith,  and  many  of  these  were  but  the  gleanings  of 
former  revivals.*  He  speaks  of  the  Church,  in  an  ad- 
dress delivered  at  a  church  meeting  on  the  23d  of  July, 
1823,  as  having  had  already  "  an  awful  sifting  ;" 
"  while  the  train  seems  to  be  laid,"  he  continues,  "  to 
sift  it  still  more.  It  is  distressing  to  look  within  the 
precincts  of  the  Ohurch,  and  let  the  eye  pass  round 
from  one  to  another.  It  is  dark  as  night  to  look  with- 
out, and  notice  the  state  of  the  congregation  and  the 
town."  The  address  to  which  I  have  referred,  appears 
to  have  been  designed  to  stir  the  consciences  of  the 
congregation,  by  presenting  the  dark  side  of  the  pic- 
ture in  its  darkest  shades.  But  Dr.  Richards  was  not 
a  man  to  exaggerate  facts,  even  for  the  sake  of  doing 
good  ;  though  his  sorrowful  remembrance  of  the 
brighter  days,  and  keen  desire  for  their  return,  might 
make  the  present  seem  darker,  comparatively,  in  his 
eye,  than  it  would  have  seemed  to  a  less  interested  ob- 
server. 

But  Providence  had  now  other  work  for  him  to  per- 

*  From  the  same  statement  1  learn  that    received  into  the  Second  Chuich. 
within  the  same  period  ouly  ten  had  been 


EEMOVAL   OF   DK.    EICHAEDS.  291 

form,  in  another  and  still  more  responsible  station. 
By  liis  constant  devotion  to  study,  lie  liad  made  large 
attainments  in  theological  knowledge ;  and  by  liis  care- 
ful and  discreet  management  of  affairs  entrusted  to 
him,  ]3nblic  and  private,  he  had  acquired  a  reputation 
which  marked  him  as  one  of  the  first  men  in  the 
Church,  in  respect  to  qualifications  for  the  head  of 
a  theological  institution.  Accordingly,  in  the  autumn 
of  1823,  having  been  a  second  time  solicited  to  take 
the  professorship  of  theology  in  Auburn  Theological 
Seminary,  he  accepted  the  appointment,  and  having 
resigned  his  charge  here,  was  inaugurated  to  that 
office  October  29th,  1823 ;  having  served  this  congrega- 
tion in  the  ministry  a  little  more  than  fourteen  years, 
and  just  commenced  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

It  does  not  belong  to  us  to  trace  his  life  and  services 
after  he  left  Newark.  He  took  the  charge  of  the  Sem- 
inary when  under  great  embarrassment.  He  left  it 
strong  and  prosperous.  Having  fully  answered  the 
expectations  of  its  most  sanguine  friends,  and  attained 
a  rank  second  to  none  among  theological  teachers,  he 
died  in  his  YGth  year,  full  of  honors,  August  2,  1843. 

The  character  of  Dr.  Richards,  as  well  as  that  of 
Dr.  Gi'iffin,  has  be^'U  drawn  with  skill  and  discrimina- 
tion, by  those  who  knew  him  well,  and  had  access  to 
the  best  means  of  judghig.*  It  will  not  be  necessary 
for  me  to  do  more  than  glance  at  some  of  its  most  ob- 
vious features.  His  most  distinguishing  traits  were  en- 
ergy, SAGAcriY  and  piety.     His  early  youth  illustrates 

*  See  '•  Bioprapliical   Sketch"  by  Rev.    indebted   in  compiling  the  abovo  account 
Samuel  U.  Gridley,  to  which  1  am  largely    of  Dr.  R.'s  ministry. 


292  CIIAEACTER    OF   DE.    EICHAEDS. 

well  tlie  quiet  and  indomitable  perseverance  witli  wliicli 
lie  pursued  an  object  on  wliicli  he  liad  deliberately  fixed 
his  purpose.  But  for  this  feature  of  his  character,  he 
would  never  have  emerged  from  the  farm  or  mechanic's 
shop,  much  less  have  surmounted  all  the  obstacles, 
which  hedged  up  his  way  to  the  attainment  of  a  liberal 
education.  The  same  quality  was  displayed  in  all  his 
theological  studies,  and  in  all  his  public  and  private 
enterprises.  His  reputation  for  sagacity  is  well  under- 
stood by  those  who  remember  his  ministry  here.  He 
seldom,  if  ever,  made  a  serious  mistake  in  judgment, 
in  respect  either  to  characters  or  events.  Hence,  he 
was  often  resorted  to  for  counsel,  not  only  by  his  own 
people,  but  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  all 
classes  of  his  acquaintance.  To  the  combination  of 
these  two  traits  of  character  may  be  referred  the  firm- 
ness which  always  distinguished  him  in  trying  cir- 
cumstances. His  sagacity  made  him  clear  and  con- 
fident in  his  judgments.  He  saw  the  right  way  early, 
and  had  no  occasion  therefore  either  to  waver  or  re- 
cede. His  energy'  made  him  fearless  of  opposition, 
and  determined  to  carry  out  his  convictions,  whatever 
difliculties  might  betide  him.  Hence  the*  justness  of 
the  observation  said  to  have  been  made  of  him  by  an 
intimate  acquaintance :  "  To  a  steady  opposition,  he 
was  the  most  impracticable  man  I  ever  knew."  And 
hence  the  confidence  expressed  on  one  occasion,  and 
doubtless  felt  on  many,  when  he  was  known  to  have 
enlisted  in  an  enterprise,  "  Then  it  will  go !  It  will 
go  !"  Dr.  Richards  was  never  a  party  man,  never  an 
extreme  man;    and  yet,  with  all  his  moderation,  he 


PAEALLEL   BETWEEN   EICHAED3   AND    GEIFFIN.     293 

•was  pre-eminently  a  decided  man.  Violent  combatants 
sometimes  murmured,  tliat  tliey  could  not  fix  him  upon 
either  side ;  yet  lie  could  iix  himself,  and  knew  his 
own  position ;  and  neither  the  one  or  the  other  found 
it  easy  to  push  him  to  the  wall.  The  piety  of  Dr. 
Eichards  was  ardent,  constant,  unpretending,  and  eiai- 
nently  sincere.  He  walked  with  God,  and  amidst  all 
the  agitations  and  enticements  of  the  world,  had  his 
heart  above  it. 

The  names  of  Eichards  and  Griffin  both  fill  a  high 
place  on  the  records  of  the  Church.  Both  were,  in 
theii'  day,  among  the  greatest  lights  of  the  Christian 
ministry.  And  yet  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  two 
such  illustrious  peers,  occupying  the  same  ground  and 
conversant  with  the  same  scenes  and  events,  in  whom, 
with  so  many  points  of  beautiful  resemblance,  there 
are  so  many  others  of  striking  and  as  beautiful  con- 
trast. Look  only  at  their  countenances — their  per- 
sons; they  are  princes,  both  of  them — tall,  stately, 
majestic — yet  how  very  different  seems  the  style  of 
their  majesty.  In  the  characteristics  of  their  minds 
and  courses  of  action,  we  find  the  same  combined  har- 
mony and  diversity.  Both  were  eminent  as  preachers. 
Eichards,  says  Frelinghuysen,  was  sound,  practical,  in- 
structive, often  eloquent.  Griffin,  we  may  rejoin,  was 
always  eloquent,  and  when  instruction  was  his  special 
aim,  eminently  instructive.  From  the  one,  you  would 
be  likely  to  receive  the  most  deep  and  soul-thrilling 
impressions  of  truth ;  from  the  other,  the  most  precise 
and  accurate  explanations  of  its  nature  and  bearings. 


'294     PARALLEL   BETWEEN   EICHAEDS   AND    GEIFEIN. 

Griffin  used  language  rlietorically,  and  of  course  some- 
times loosely.  Richards  was  anxious  to  express  his 
■exact  thought  and  shade  of  thought,  whatever  else  he 
might  sacrifice.  Griffin's  style  was  sometimes  too 
ornate ;  Richards's  occasionally  too  homely.  Both 
wrote  and  re-wrote  their  best  productions ;  Richards 
with  reference  to  being  understood,  and  Griffin  in  or- 
der to  produce  a  better  and  stronger  effect.  In  respect 
to  the  excellence  of  their  performances,  Richards 
might  be  said  to  occupy  a  high  table-land,  where  he 
expatiated  with  the  stride  of  a  giant, — never  soaring, 
never  descending.  Griffin  ascended  peaks  not  reached 
by  ordinary  mortals,  yet  sometimes  slumbered  in  the 
vales,  distinguished  only  by  the  still  lingering  glow 
caught  above  in  his  more  favored  moments.  In  accom- 
plishing the  object  of  their  efforts,  both  were  eminently 
successful ;  the  one  carried  the  garrison  by  storm,  the 
other  could  maintain  along  siege  and  starve  the  enemy 
out  of  his  strong-holds.  In  their  intercourse  with 
mankind.  Griffin  was  simple-hearted  and  unsuspecting ; 
Richards  wary,  far-reaching,  and  on  the  alert.  The 
one  was  easily  circumvented  by  the  arts  of  the  hostile ; 
the  other  never  committed  himself  to  any  man,  and 
always  saw  and  could  defeat  the  most  cunning  strata- 
gem. To  use  his  own  expression,  as  related  to  me  by 
an  acquaintance,  he  cut  the  cords  by  which  they  man- 
aged their  machines  so  far  off,  that  they  could  not  teU 
where  to  find  the  ends,  and  so  could  not  tie  them 
again.  The  memory  of  both  these  men  will  long  be 
cherished  in  the  community  where  they  ministered, 


SYNOD    OF    NEW   JERSEY.  295 

first  in  succession,  and  tlien  side  by  side  in  loving 
brotlierliood.  This  Cliurcli  could  not  have  spared  tlie 
gifts  and  services  of  either  of  them.  Richards,  I  ap- 
prehend, has  left  his  impress  on  the  character  of  the 
people  the  more  deeply  of  the  two ;  but  then  his  min- 
istry was  nearly  twice  as  long  as  that  of  his  predeces- 
sor. Griffin  was  instrumental  in  bringing  into  the 
Church  the  larger  numbers,  in  proportion  to  the  time ; 
but  then,  as  he  observed,  he  was  here  in  harvest  time, 
whereas  his  brother  who  followed  him,  came  "  in  the 
fall  of  the  year."  In  theological  views,  both  occupied 
nearly  the  same  position, — that  of  New  England  di- 
vines of  the  old  school — the  school  of  Edwards,  and 
Bellamy,  and  Smalley,  and  Dwight.  Both  were  earnest 
revivalists,  yet  strenuously  opposed  to  all  fanaticism 
and  wild-fire.  Both  used  the  gifts  which  God  had 
given  them  to  the  same  end — the  glory  of  Christ — and 
the  dissemination  of  the  knowledge  of  Him  crucified. 

I  have  now  come  with  you,  my  friends,  to  the  period 
when  the  history  of  the  illustrious  dead  gives  place  to 
that  of  those  who  are  still  living  and  acting  on  the 
stage  of  life.  The  time  has  not  come  to  speak  of  their 
character  or  estimate  the  results  of  their  labors.  I  will 
simply  mention  a  few  general  facts  belonging  to  the 
succeeding  period,  and  then  bring  my  narrative  to  a 
close. 

The  same  year  in  which  Dr.  Richards  was  dismissed, 
the  Synod  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  was  divided. 
The  old  Synod  including  the  Presbyteries  of  Hudson, 
North  River,  New  York  and  Long  Island,  took  the 


296  EEV.    WILLIAM   T.    HAMILTON. 

name  of  New  Yor\  and  a  new  one  was  constituted, 
consisting  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Jersey,  New  Bruns- 
wick, Newton  and  Susquelianna,  and  taking  tlie  name 
of  the  Synod  of  New  Jeeset.  Tlie  first  meeting  of 
tlie  Synod  of  New  Jersey  was  lield  in  the  First  Church 
of  Newark  on  the  21st  of  October,  1823,  at  10  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  and  was  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  Rev. 
John  Woodhull,  D.  D.,  of  Freehold,  from  Phill.  iii,  8. 
After  sermon,  and  the  organization  of  the  body,  the 
Hev.  Archibald  Alexander,  D.  D.,  was  chosen  Moder- 
ator, and  the  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Woodhull  and  the  Rev. 
John  McDowell,  were  chosen  Clerks.^  With  this  Syn- 
od the  Churches  in  Newark  now  became  connected. 

The  successor  of  Dr.  Richards  was  the  Rev.  William 
T.  Hamilton,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  in  the  year  1825.  After  preach- 
ing to  the  congregation  for  a  time,  a  large  portion  of 
them  were  disposed  to  invite  him  to  become  their 
pastor ;  but  yielding  to  the  wishes  of  others  of  their 
number  who  were  desirous  of  hearing  another  candi- 
date, they  became  di\ided  in  their  preferences,  and  af- 
ter a  violent  struggle,  in  which  the  interference  of  the 
Presbytery  became  necessary,  determined  to  separate 
and  form  a  new  congregation.  For  this  purpose,  a 
large  number  seceded,  built  a  new  house  of  worship, 
settled  the  Rev.  Joshua  T.  Russell  as  their  minister, 
and  constituted  what  is  now  known  as  the  Third  Pres- 
byterian Church.     The  new  organization  took  place  in 

*  Furnished  from  the  Records,  by  the    the  Synod  of  New  Jersey. 
Rev.  Ravaiid  K.  Rodgers,  present  Clerk  of 


THIED   PRESBYTEEIAN   CHUECH.  29 Y 

the  Session-room  of  tlie  First  Cliurcli,  from  wliich  its 
original  meml)ers — 50  in  nnmber — had  received  certifi- 
cates of  dismission  for  the  purpose,  on  the  8th  of  June, 
1824. 

The  circumstances  which  led  to  this  measure  were 
infelicitous.  But  the  measure  itself  was  one  for  which 
the  condition  of  the  community  had  long  been  ripe. 
The  old  house  of  worship  was  crowded,  and  the  con- 
gregation already  overgrown.  Dr.  Richards  had  seen 
the  need  of  a  new  church  for  a  long  time,  but  knew 
not  how  to  effect  the  object ;  and  I  am  told  that,  when 
one  of  the  people  lamented  the  division  in  his  presence, 
he  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the  event,  observing 
that  what  could  not  be  brought  about  by  peaceful 
means,  had  been  accomplished  by  contention,  and  that 
the  result  was  an  occasion  for  thankfulness. 

That  some  kindly  feeling  prevailed,  even  in  the 
midst  of  strife,  is  manifest  from  a  vote  of  the  Session, 
which  I  find  on  record,  directing  their  clerk  to  inform 
the  Session  of  the  Third  Church,  that  it  would  be 
"perfectly  agreeable"  that  they  should  occupy  the 
house  of  worship  of  the  First  Church,  until  their  own 
should  be  completed,  every  Sabbath  afternoon,  unless 
circumstances  should  thereafter  require  some  other  ar- 
rangement ;  and  to  propose  that  the  two  congregations 
should  alternately  occupy  the  house  for  a  third  service 
on  Sablmth  evenings.  On  the  15th  of  November, 
1824,  seventy-two  persons,  members  of  the  First 
Church,  were  dismissed  and  "affectionately  recom- 
mended "  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Third  Presbyterian 


298         FINAL   SETTLEMENT    OF    CHUECII   PEOPERTY. 

Churcli  in  Newark,  now  under  tlie  pastoral  care  of  Mr. 
Russell. 

The  new  Churcli,  having  fulfilled  the  conditions  of 
the  vote  of  1809,  providing  prosi:)ectively  for  the  es- 
tal3lishment  of  such  a  Church  whenever  it  should  be 
deemed  desirable,  now  presented  their  claim  to  the 
l^ortion  of  the  church  proj^erty  promised  by  that  vote. 
The  congregation  of  the  First  Church  responded  af- 
firmatively ;  and,  after  some  negotiations  between  the 
parties,  res23ecting  the  precise  amount  to  be  ap23ro- 
priated,  two-sevenths  of  all  the  real  estate  owned  in 
1809,  except  the  church  and  lecture-room  and  land  oc- 
cupied by  them,  were  set  apart  for  their  use. 

Meanwhile,  the  Trustees  in  their  various  divisions 
and  appropriations  of  the  property,  had  made  no  at- 
tempt to  convey  a  permanent  title.  It  was  supposed 
they  had  not  the  power.  But  as  it  now  seemed  de- 
sirable that  a  final  settlement  should  be  effected,  ap- 
plication was  made  to  the  Legislature  of  tlie  State; 
and  an  act  obtained,  bearing  date  November  4,  1825, 
entitled  "  an  act  for  the  relief  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newark."  This  act,  after 
setting  forth  the  original  source  and  intent  of  the 
church  property,  and  the  appropriations  which  had 
been  made  by,  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Church  "  gra- 
tuitously," and  "  in  pursuance  of  the  wishes  of  the  con- 
gregation," clothed  the  said  Trustees  with  full  j^ower 
to  make  conveyance  of  the  lands  included  in  those 
appropriations  to  the  several  Churches  mentioned 
therein,  namely.  Trinity  Church  in  Newark ;  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Orange,  and  the  Second  and 


PRESBYTERY   OF   NEWARK.  299 

Third  in  Newark,  according  to  the  terms  before  agreed 
upon  betAveen  the  j^arties ;  "  the  same  to  he  held  solely 
and  forever  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  in  the  said 
congregations,  or  religious  societies  respectively,  and 
for  no  other  purpose."  The  deeds  of  conveyance  were 
accordingly  ordered  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  to  the 
two  first-named  Churches,  in  August  1826,  and  to  the 
others  in  the  month  of  May  following. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of 
this  Church,  in  pursuance  of  a  vote  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  a  meeting  held  on  the  lYth  of  June,  1824,  at 
which  Dr.  McDowel,  of  Elizabethtown,  presided.  His 
installation  by  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey,  took  place  on 
the  27  th  of  July  in  the  same  year. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1824,  the  Presbytery  of 
Jersey,  which  had  existed  under  that  name  fifteen 
years,  was  divided  by  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  at  its 
own  request,  into  two  Presbyteries,  the  Presbytery 
OF  Newark,  and  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabethtown,  of 
which  the  former  held  its  first  meetiug  at  Jersey  City, 
November  2,  1824.  The  property  belonging  to  the 
old  Presbytery,  consisting  of  books,  money  for  pur- 
poses of  education,  <fec.,  was  equally  divided  by  a 
committee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  The  last  two 
volumes  of  the  Records  were  assigned  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Elizabethtown,  and  the  preceding  volumes,  in- 
cluding, besides  those  of  the  old  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  the  first  three  years  of  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey, 
and  running  back  to  the  year  1775,  to  that  of  Newark. 

In  the  year  1825,  the  interior  of  the  church  edifice 
was  thoroughly  altered,  the  ceiling  lowered,  and  the 


800  EEvivAL  OF  1832 :   new  chueches. 

floor  and  pews  cliaiigcd,  leaving  only  liere  and  there  a 
sliglit  trace  of  the  original  finishing.  The  present  lec- 
ture room  was  erected,  as  nearly  as  I  can  ascertain,  in 
the  Spring  of  1832. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  Dr.  Hamilton's  ministry, 
there  was  a  memorable  manifestation  of  religious  feel- 
ing in  the  congregation.  The  pastor  characterizes  it 
in  the  record,  as  "  the  glorious  revival  of  religion  with 
which  the  Lord  Jesus  favored  this  portion  of  his  Zion 
in  February,  1832,  chiefly  under  the  labors  of  Eev. 
H.  Norton  and  Rev.  Joel  Parker,  of  New  York."  A 
"  protracted  meeting,"  or  continued  series  of  religious 
exercises,  occupying  the  entire  day  for  many  days  in 
succession,  was  held ;  and  other  special  measures  for 
deej)ening  and  extending  the  religious  impression,  were 
resorted  to.  The  number  of  hopeful  converts  during 
this  season  is  not  stated,  but  at  the  communion  in  May^ 
1832,  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  persons  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  Church  together,  on  the  profession  of 
their  faith,  and  forty-five  adults  received  the  ordinance 
of  l)aptism. 

We  have  already  had  occasion  to  notice  the  forma- 
tion of  several  Churches,  either  wholly  or  in  part  col- 
onies from  this.  On  the  14th  of  April,  1831,  the 
Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  the  ses- 
sion room  of  the  First  Church  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Newark.  It  consisted  of  twelve  members ;  two  from 
the  First,  four  from  the  Second,  and  six  from  the  Third 
Churches.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Weeks  became  its  first  pas- 
tor, in  July  1832.     This  Church  is  now  extinct. 

The  African  Presbyterian  Church,  consisting  of  peo- 


KEY.    ANSEL    D.    EDDY.  301 

pie  of  color,  was  organized  by  a  coinmis.sion  from  the 
same  Presbytery,  on  the  last  Sabljatli  in  October, 
1831* 

lu  tlie  month  of  March,  1834,  about  forty  persons 
were  dismissed  from  the  First  Church,  to  form  the  first 
Free  Church  in  Newark ;  and  were  organized  as  such 
in  the  lecture-room  of  the  First  Churcli,  by  a  commis- 
sion of  which  Dr.  Hillyer  was  the  chairman.  May  22d, 
1834.f  To  encourage  tliis  enterprise,  the  Trustees 
made  a  donation  of  $500  to  the  new  congregation.  It 
has  now  become  a  Congregational  Church. 

During  the  winters  of  1833  and  1834,  Dr.  Hamilton 
was  absent  at  the  South  on  account  of  his  health. 
Eeturning  in  the  Spring,  he  remained  through  the 
warm  season  ;  and  in  the  Autumn,  having  been  ad\^sed 
by  his  physicians,  that  his  health  would  again  require 
him  to  spend  the  Winter  in  a  warmer  climate,  he  re- 
signed his  pastoral  charge,  and  was  dismissed  October 
22,  1834.  He  was  soon  after  settled  in  Mobile,  Ala., 
where  he  still  remains. 

The  successor  of  Dr.  Hamilton  was  the  Rev.  Ansel 
D.  Eddy,  a  graduate  of  Union  College  in  the  class  of 
181Y,  and  formerly  the  pastor  of  a  Church  in  Canan- 
daigua,  N.  Y.  Having  received  a  unanimous  call,  lie 
assumed  the  charge  of  the  pulpit  in  the  month  of  July, 
and  was  installed  on  the  11th  of  August,  1835. 

In  the  year  1838,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  became  divided  into  two  bodies 
both  claiming  its  name  and  rights.^     The  S^niod  of 

*  Records  of  Newark  Presbytery,  p.  340.        I  To  stale  the  causes  of  this  uDhoppy 
+  Records  of  Newark  Presbytery,  p.  073.    separation,  would  require  more  space  than 


302    SYNOD  OF  NEW  YORK  AND  NEW  JEESEY. 

New  Jersey  declaring  its  adiierence  to  tlie  one,  and 
tlie  Presbyteries  of  Newark  and  Montrose  sending 
their  commissioners  to  tlie  other,  tlie  two  Presbyteries 
were  excluded  from  the  Synod,  tbe  latter  in  October, 
1838,  and  tbe  former  during  tlie  following  year.* 
Thereupon  a  new  Synod  was  formed,  called  the  Sjmod 
of  Newark,  which  held  its  first  meeting  in  this  house, 
October  ir)th,  1839,  and  was  opened  by  a  sermon  from 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hillyer,  from  Genesis  xiii :  T,  8,  9.  The 
Kev.  Barnabas  King  was  chosen  as  its  Moderator.  In 
the  following  Spring,  this  Synod  and  that  of  New  York 
were  nnited  in  one  body,  and  took  the  name  of  the 
Synod  of  New  Yokk  and  New  Jersey.  It  held  its 
first  meeting  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on  the  third 
Tuesday  in  October  1840,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fisher 
preached  the  opening  sermon  from  1  Cor.  xv:  58 
With  this  body  the  Church  is  still  in  connection.f 

can  be  given  to  it  in  the  present  narrative,  the  Presbytery  of  Newark  be  enjoined  be- 

and  the  writer  has  no  disposition  to  enter  tween  that  time  and  the  meeting  of  the 

into  the  mournful  details.     Both   bodies  General    Assembly,   1889,   to    decide   its 

adhere  to  the  same  standards  of  doctrine  course  in  reference  to  the  attendance  of  its 

and  discipline.    Maj' they  both  learn  "how  Commissioners  on  the  body  claiming  to  be 

good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 

to  dwell  together  in  unity  "  Church,  and  Mhich  convened  in  thi-  Fiisf, 

*  The  action  of  the  Synod  respecting  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Philadelphia,  in 
Presbytery  of  Newark,  was  as  follows:  May,  1838,  and  .should  that  Presbytery 
Oct.,  183S.  "Resolved,  That  the  Presby-  send  Commissioners,"  &c.,  "and  whereas, 
trry  of  Newark  be  enjoined-  between  thi.s  the  said  Presbytery  of  Newark  did  send 
time  and  the  next  General  Assembly,  to  Commissioners  to  the  said  Body,  in  May 
decide  on  its  course  in  regard  to  this  sub-  last,  as  appears  by  the  printed  Minutes  of 
ject ;  and  if  that  Presbytery  shall  send  said  Body,  therefore,  by  said  act  and  res- 
Commissioners  to  the  Body  appointed  to  olution,  the  Presbytery  of  Newark  is  no 
meet  n  Mav  next,  by  the  Body  calling  it-  longer  connected  with  this  Synod." — Min- 
self  the  General  Assembly,  which  met  in  utes  for  1839,  copied  by  tlie  present  stated 
thfi  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  May  clerk,  the  Rev.  R,.  K.  Rodgers. 
last,  the  said  Presbytery  shall  be  consid-  •)•  See  Minutes;  for  extracts  from  which 
cred  thenceforth  as  no  longer  in  connec-  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  the  Rev. 
lion  with  this  Synod." — Minutes,  p.  21.  John  N.  Lewis,  present  stated  clerk  of  the 

1839.     "Whereas,  the  Synod  at  its  last  Synod  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey, 
meeting   in    Morristown,   resolved,   That 


NEW   CmjRCHES.  30^ 

During  tlie  ministry  of  Dr.  Eddy,  tlie  Second  Free 
Presbyterian  Church  was  formed.  Seven  persons  were 
dismissed  from  this  Church  to  assist  in  founding  it,  on 
the  24th  of  May,  183G,  and  it  was  organized  with  about 
forty  members.  Its  existence  was  of  short  duration. 
On  the  31st  of  January,  183Y,  a  commission  of  the 
Presbytery  then  in  session,  organized  a  new  one,  com- 
prising most  of  its  members,  together  with  others, 
which  took  the  name  of  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church,  by  which  it  is  still  known.  The  Kev.  Charles 
Hoover  was  the  same  evening  installed  as  its  pastor. 
The  services  took  place  in  this  house,  and  Dr.  Magie, 
of  Elizabethtown,  preached  the  sermon.  The  Eev. 
George  C.  Lucas,  the  present  pastor,  was  installed  in 
the  summer  of  1849. 

In  the  Spring  of  184Y,  Dr.  Eddy  took  a  voyage  to 
Europe,  and  was  absent  during  the  summer.  Soon 
after  his  return,  he  resigned  his  charge,  and  was  dis- 
missed by  the  Presbytery,  February  22d,  1848. 

Before  this  time,  several  attempts  had  been  made  to 
organize  another  congregation,  to  meet  the  pressing 
wants  of  a  growing  community.  In  the  course  of  the 
summer  following  the  dismission  of  Dr.  Eddy,  seventy- 
two  persons,  fifty-nine  at  first,  and  nineteen  afterwards, 
were  dismissed  from  this  Church  to  begin  a  new  enter- 
prise under  the  direction  and  ministry  of  their  former 
pastor.  The  Fifth  Presbyterian,  which  has  since 
changed  its  name  by  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery, 
to  that  of  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  was  accordingly 
organized  in  Library  Hall,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1848. 
The  Kev.  A.  D.  Eddy,  D.  D.,  was  installed  as  its  pastor. 


304  NEW    CIIUECHES. 

Jtine  1,  1848.  The  Rev.  Jonathan  B.  Condit,  D.  D., 
j)reached  the  sermon  from  Rom.  xi :  13.;  "I  magnify 
my  office."" 

During  the  year  1818,  and  subsequently,  five  i^ev- 
sons  were  dismissed  to  aid  in  establishing  the  Sixth 
Presbyterian  Church ;  which  was  organized  with  thirty- 
six  members,  October  1,  1848.  A  commodious  house 
of  worship  was  erected  for  their  use,  and  dedicated  to 
the  worship  of  God,  December  26th,  1849.  The  Rev. 
William  Aikman,  its  first  pastor,  was  installed  the 
same  day.  His  brother,  the  Rev.  Robert  Aikman, 
preached  from  1  Cor.  i:  21. 

Another  detachment  of  seven  was  sent  out  durinof 
the  same  year,  to  aid  in  forming  the  High  street  Pres- 
byterian Church,  which  was  organized  in  the  house  of 
worship  of  the  Third  Church,  with  thirty-eight  mem- 
bers, on  the  16th  of  September,  1849.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Poor  was  installed  as  its  first  pastor,  November  7th, 
1849.  The  services  took  place  in  this  house,  and  the 
sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  George  L.  Prentiss, 
from  1  Cor.  xiv:  20.f 

The  present  pastor  took  the  charge  of  this  pulpit, 
on  the  28th  of  October,  and  was  installed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Newark,  December  13th,  1849.  The 
Rev.  Henry  B.  Smith,  Professor  in  Amherst  College,  , 
preached  the  sermon  from  Col.  ii:  9.  J 

*  Its  house  of  worship,  of  which  the  cor-  X  Since  the  settlement  of  the  present 

ner  stone  was  laid  in  the  summer  of  1849,  pastor,  two  new  Presbyterian  Churches 

was  completed  and  dedicated  in  the  month  have  been  orojauized ;  the  German  Church, 

of  August,  ISol.  by  a  commission  from  the  Presbytery  of 

+  The  dedication  of  its  house  of  worship  Newark,  in  the  summer  of  1852,  and  the 

a  beautiful  edifice  of  stone,  took  place  in  South  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  on  the 

the  month  of  September,  1852.  20th  day  of  March,  1853.    To  assist  in  the 


STATISTICAL    SUMMAIIY.  305 

The  history  of  the  Church,  reckoiiiug  the  time  from 
the  commencement  of  its  first  pastor's  ministry  in  tliis 
place,  in  October,  1G67,  to  January  1,  1851,  embraces 
a  period  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  years  and 
three  months.  During  that  time  the  number  of  its 
pastors  who  have  com2:>leted  their  ministry,  including 
the  short  and  somewhat  uncertain  ministry  of  Mr. 
Brainerd,  is  thirteen ;  and  their  several  terms  of  ser- 
vice, as  nearly  as  I  am  able  to  fix  them,  are  as  follows : 

1.  Abraham  Pierson,  senior,  from  October  1,  1667 
to  August  9,  1678 — a  little  short  of  eleven  years. 

2.  Abraham  Pierson,  junior,  from  July  28,  1669,  to 
about  April  2,  1692 — twenty-two  years  and  eight 
months.  Of  this  period  he  was  assistant  minister  two 
years  and  seven  months,  colleague  pastor  six  years  and 
five  months,  sole  pastor  thirteen  years  and  eight 
months.  His  whole  pastorate  was  twenty  years  and 
one  month. 

a.  John  Prudden,  from  August  23,  1692,  to  June  9, 
1699 — nearly  seven  years. 

4.  Jabez  Wakeman,  from  November  16,  1669,  to 
October  29,  1704,  about  five  years,  of  which  time  he 
was  the  installed  pastor  probably  about  four  years. 

5.  Nathaniel  Bowers,  from  June  16,  1709,  to  Au- 


formation  of  the  latter,  twenty-nine  per-  ination  in  the  city  of  Newark  now  coni- 
sons  were  dismissed  and  recommended  prises  ten  regularly  organized  Churches, 
from  the  First  Church,  including  one  of  including  one  German  and  one  colored 
its  elders;  and  the  services  of  organization  congregation,  besides  two  or  three  mis- 
took place  in  its  house  of  worship.    The  sionary  stations. 

Rev.  James  P.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  was  installed  The  Third  Church  withdrew  from  the 

as  the  first  pastor  of  the  new  Church,  Presbytery  of  Newark  and  joined  that  of 

October  25,  1S53  ;  sermon  by  llev.  Samuel  Elizabethtown,    belonging    to  the  other 

Fisher,  D.  D.     The  Presbyterian  denom-  General  Assembly,  in  the  autumn  of  1851. 

20 


306  STATISTICAL    SU:\UIAEY. 

gust,  1 '716— seven  years,  viz.,  six  years  as  pastor,  and 
one  as  candidate, 

6.  Joseph  Webb,  from  December  16,  1719,  to  No. 
vember  1Y36 — nearly  eighteen  years,  viz.,  seventeen 
years  as  pastor,  and  one  as  candidate. 

T.  Aaron  Burr,  from  December,  1736,  to  the  autumn 
of  1755— nineteen  years,  viz.,  eighteen  years  as  pastor, 
and  one  as  candidate. 

8.  John  Brainerd,  from  the  autumn  of  1755,  to  May, 
1759 — ^three^  years  and  a  half,  including  a  season  of 
absence,  whose  length  is  not  ascertained. 

9.  Alexander  Macwhorter,  D.  D.,  from  the  summer 
of  1759,  to  July  20,  1807,  excluding  less  than  two 
years,  when  he  was  absent  in  North  Carolina — forty-six 
years. 

10.  Edward  D.  Griffin,  D.  D.,  from  October  20, 
1801,  to  April  27,  1809 — seven  and  a  half  years,  viz., 
iive  years  and  nine  months  as  colleague  with  Dr.  Mac- 
whorter, and  one  year  and  nine  months  as  sole  pastor 

11.  James  Eichards,  D.  D.,  from  June  7,  1809,  to 
the  autumn  of  1823 — a  little  more  than  foui*teen  years. 

12.  William  T.  Hamilton,  D.  D.,  from  July  27,  1824, 
to  October  22,  1834 — ten  years  and  three  months. 

13.  Ansel  D.  Eddy,  D.  D.,  from  August  11,  1835,  to 
February  22,  1848,  twelve  years  and  five  months. 

Of  this  number,  four  have  died  in  the  service,  and 
theii'  remains  he  buried  among  you.  One  laid  down 
the  office  of  the  ministry  but  remained  among  the 
people,  serving  them  whenever  there  was  occasion, 
during  a  long  life,  and  is  also  buried  by  the  side  of  his 


STATISTICAL    SUMMARY.  307 

parishioners.  Three  were  called  away  much  against 
tlie  will  of  the  people,  to  take  responsible  stations  in 
literary  or  theological  institutions,  and  one  to  become 
a  missionary  among  the  Aborigines  of  America.  One 
was  dismissed  on  account  of  ill-health,  requiring  a  dif- 
ferent climate ;  and  of  the  remainingthree,  one  is  now 
the  j^astor  of  a  new  congregation  in  the  same  city. 

From  its  beginning,  in  1667,  to  1719,  the  Church 
belonged  to  the  Congregational  or  Independent  order. 
Since  that  time  it  has  been  connected  with  the  follow- 
ing Presbyterian  bodies,  viz : 

Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  from  1719  to  1733. 
"  "   East  Jersey,       ''     1733  to  1738. 

"  "   New  York,         "     1738  to  1810. 

"  "   Jersey,  "     1810  to  1824. 

"  "   JSTewark,  "     1824 

Synod  of  Philadelphia  "        1719  to  1745. 

"      "   New  York,  "     1745  to  1758. 

"  "  N.  Y.  and  Phila.,  ''  1758  to  1788. 
"  "  N.  Y.  and  N.  J.,  ''  1788  to  1823. 
"      "   New  Jersey,  "     1823  to  1839. 

"      "   Newark,  "     1839  to  1840. 

"      ^'   N.  Y.  and  N.  J.,        ^'     1840 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  from 
1788  to  the  present  time. 

Thus  have  the  wheels  of  time,  rolling  steadily  along, 
brought  us  down  to  the  present  eventful  period — 
eventful  to  us  at  least,  beyond  all  other  periods.  In 
long  succession,  we  have  seen  one  generation  pass 
away  and  another  come,  till  at  length  vv^e  find  ourselves 
occupying  the  same  places,  surrounded  by  the  same 


308  CONCLUDING    EEMAEKS. 

oLjects,  and  engaged  in  the  same  pursuits  with  those 
whose  history  we  have  been  endeavoring  to  trace. 
Many  affecting  lessons  might  l^e  drawn  from  this  re- 
view, k)cal  and  limited  as  its  sphere  is.  But  they  will 
force  themselves  I  am  sure,  spontaneously  on  your  at- 
tention, and  you  will  scarcely  need  any  suggestions 
from  me. 

Where  are  the  men  now,  who  in  successive  ages 
have  called  this  First  Church  in  Newark  our  Church 
— the  men  who  went  through  the  perils  of  the  ^\iiv 
with  Macwhorter,  and  rejoiced  to  behold  the  rising 
honors  of  the  infant  College  with  Burr — who  wept  at 
the  untimely  end  of  the  beloved  Wakeman,  grew  tired 
of  the  unpretending  services  of  worthy  Messrs.  Webb 
and  Prudden,  measured  their  strength  of  will  success- 
fully with  the  younger  Pierson,  or  followed  his  good 
father,  ripe  in  years  and  honors,  to  the  grave  ?  Where 
are  the  men  whom  the  eloquent  Griffin  awakened  and 
turned  to  righteousness,  or  who  withstood  rebelliously 
his  thrilling  appeal  to  their  consciences — ^the  men 
whom  Eichards  taught,  and  built  up  in  the  most  holy 
faith,  or  who  hardened  their  hearts  under  his  faitliful 
ministry,  and  so  "  treasured  \y\)  unto  themselves  wrath 
against  the  day  of  wrath  ?"  Where,  O  where  are  they 
now?  Almost  all  gone.  Their  race  is  run,  their  mis- 
sion finished,  their  record  with  all  its  good  or  ill,  its 
faithfulness  or  neglect,  has  passed  the  Tjroad  seal  of 
time,  and  cannot  be  altered  in  a  single  syllable  or  pen 
stroke.  We,  as  I  have  intimated,  are  enacting  our  liis- 
tory.  Some  future  hand  will  trace  the  history  of  this 
congregation,   and  gathering  up  what  an'c  have  pre- 


coN:cLiTDixa  remarks.  P,09 

served  of  the  past,  will  carry  it  on  through  your  lives 
and  through  mine,  and  tell  our  children  and  our  chil- 
dren's children,  who  Ave  were,  and  what  we  either  did 
or  left  undone. 

In  less  than  seventeen  years  from  this  time,  this  con- 
gregation will  celebrate  its  second  centennial  anniver- 
sary. That,  we  may  well  believe,  will  be  a  great  day 
here,  if  the  Church  lives  and  flourishes  as  we  trust  it 
will.  Then  a  large  portion  of  the  present  race  will 
have  left  the  stage.  My  ministry  will,  in  all  proba- 
bility, have  ended — perhaps  for  years.  And  these 
scenes,  fresh  still  in  the  memories  of  the  elder  class, 
will  come  up  as  matters  of  history.  And  what  wdll 
they  say  of  ws  f  What  report  will  be  given  of  the 
period  beginning  w^itli  November  1S49,  and  ending 
God  knows  when  ?  Shall  it  be  a  period  over  which 
the  devout  shall  love  to  linger ;  a  period  of  holy  de- 
votion and  blameless  lives  on  the  part  of  those  who  j^ro- 
fess  the  faith ;  of  sweet  refreshings  and  anticipations 
of  heaven,  and  of  sacred  zeal  and  energy  guided  by 
wisdom,  in  the  service  of  the  blessed  Redeemer  ?  Shall 
they  say  of  it,  "  during  that  period,  religion  flourished  ; 
prayer  meetings  were  well  attended,  for  all  loved  to 
be  there ;  the  Saljbath-school  was  flourishing,  and  the 
children  were  never  so  well  instructed  in  the  knowledge 
of  Christ ;  the  young  men  and  young  women  cheered 
each  other  in  the  paths  of  virtue  and  holiness,  and 
strensrthened  each  other's  hearts  in  resistiuGr  evil ; 
Christian  morals,  though  they  had  languished,  soon 
revived,  and  were  strenuously  promoted ;  large  contri- 


310  CONCLUDING   EEMAEKS. 

Butions  were  made  to  all  tlie  branclies  of  Oliristian  be- 
nevolence, and  tKe  First  Clinrcli  in  Newai'k  was,  be- 
yond all  former  experience,  a  burning  and  a  sliining 
liglit  in  tlie  community  ?"  Sball  our  record  be,  tliat, 
blessing  our  endeavors,  and  answering  our  prayers, 
tlie  S2:)irit  of  the  Lord  came  down  with  power  among 
us,  and  the  refreshiugs  from  on  high  exj^erienced  in 
the  days  of  Burr,  and  Macwhorter,  and  Richards,  and 
Hamilton,  were  fairly  eclipsed  by  the  superior  power, 
steadiness,  and  ^^urity  of  those  which  were  enjoyed 
during  this  period  ?  Shall  this  be  the  history  of  our 
times,  brethren,  when  we  lie  beneath  yonder  clods  of 
the  valley  ?  Or  shall  it  be,  that  during  that  period, 
religion  languished,  the  Church  grew  negligent,  dis- 
cord and  jealousy  prevailed  among  brethren,  Chris- 
tians had  a  bad  name  among  their  fellow  citizens,  gen- 
uine conversions  were  very  few,  and  had  not  the  Lord 
in  His  great  mercy,  raised  up  another  and  more  faith- 
ful race  of  men,  that  venerable  congregation  would 
have  had  by  this  time,  not  even  a  name  that  she 
liveth  ? 

My  very  soul,  brethren,  trembles  with  solicitude,  as 
I  consider  how  the  time  is  flying,  and  what  characters 
each  movement  of  its  telegraphic  points  is  jotting  down 
upon  the  records  of  eternity.  It  is  not  that  we  cherish 
ambition.  Fame  is  the  veriest  bubble  that  wise  men 
have  ever  thought  it.  But  the  memory  of  the  just  is 
blessed ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness, 
shall  shine  as  the  stars  in  the  firmament  of  our  God 
for  ever  and  ever.  The  judgment  of  posterity  is  some- 
thing to  be  thought  of,  but  the  judgment  of  the  last 


COXCLUDIXG   EE:\rARKS.  311 

great  day  is  more  momentous.  Then  sliall  we,  with 
all  that  have  gone  before  us,  be  weighed  in  the  balance  ; 
and  what  if  then,  we  of  the  present  age  should  he 
found  wanting  ? 

Let  us  address  ourselves,  brethren,  to  the  Lord's 
work,  and  lay  out  our  whole  strength  to  accomplish  it- 
Trusting  in  God,  and  girded  with  might  by  His  Spirit, 
let  us  endeavor  to  make  our  period  bright  with  souls 
redeemed  and  Christian  jewels  midtiplied  and  polished. 
That  one  sentence,  ''  Well  done,  good  and  faithful," 
uttered  from  the  lips  of  our  Master,  will  be  an  ample 
reward.  May  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be 
with  you  all.     Amen. 


APPENDIX 


Complete  and  accurate  catalogues  of  Elders,  Deacons  and  Trustees  can- 
not be  made,  for  want  of  records.  Those  which  follow  are  presented  as  the 
best  which  could  be  obtained  in  present  circumstances,  and  must  stand  sub- 
ject to  correction,  should  further  discoveries  be  made.  During  the  period 
which  no  recoi-d  of  the  Church  covers,  a  few  names  of  Elders  have  been 
culled  from  the  minutes  of  the  Synod. 


ELDEK.S. 

Caleb  Ward, 
Samuel  Farrand, 
Samuel  Ailing,  sen.,* 
Samuel  Ailing,  jr.,    - 
John  Ogden, 
Nehemiah  Baldwin, 
Jo.seph  Riggs, 
Nathaniel  Camp, 
Dr.  William  Burnet, 


In  Synod.  Died. 

1720  -  -  173G 

172G  -  -  1750 

1727  prior  to  1702 

1737  -  -  1793' 

1743  -  -  1795 

17G5  -  -  1765 

1766  -  -  1799 

1767  -  -  1780 

1768  -  -  1791 


The  following  names  are  taken  from  the  Church  record 
decease,  and  ages,  have  been  derived  from  other  sources  : 

Chosen. 


Age. 

-  60 

-  69 

-  64 

-  95 

-  87 

-  43 

-  79' 

-  82 

-  61 

The  dates  of 


Elders. 

John  Ogden,  Esq., 
Ebenezer  Baldwin, 
Job  Foster, 
Moses  Farrand, 
Elihu  Crane, 
David  Burnet, 
Ephraim  Mon-is, 
Stephen  Baldwin, 
Jonathan  Baldwin, 
Aljiathar  Dod, 
Ekazer  Bruen, 


Died. 

1795 
1801 
1793 
1805 
1786 
1800 


1794 
1794 
1794 


181G 
181G 

1821 


Age. 
87 
77 
60 
77 
60 
64 

74 

85 

80 


*  On  page  14G,  note,  the  name  of  John  Ailing  is  mentioned.    On  reflection,  I  doubt 
whether  he  was  an  elder  for  this  Church. 


<J14: 

APPENDIX. 

Elders. 

Chosen. 

Died. 

Age. 

Joseph  Olisbe,'*' 

1794    - 

.      . 

-      — 

David  D.  Crane,t 

. 

-     1838     - 

-     75 

Isaac  Ailing, 

1799     - 

-     1819     - 

-    70 

Jabez  Baldmn, 

1799     - 

-     1820     - 

-     67 

Joseph  Kccn,t 

1802     - 

.     - 

.    — 

Joseph  Conger, 

1802    - 

-     1820     - 

-     60 

Nathaniel  Beach, 

1802     - 

-    1808     - 

-     53 

James  Tichenor, 

1802     - 

-     1839     - 

-     68 

Moses  Roberts,! 

1808     - 

-     1853     - 

-    87 

Isaac  Nichols, 

1808     - 

- 

-■ 

Oliver  Wade,|| 

1811     - 

-     1822     - 

-    40 

Stephen  Hays,  jr., IF  - 

1811 

Joseph  C.  Hornblower, 

1811 

Halsted  Coe,** 

1816     - 

-     1832    - 

-    73 

William  Tuttle, 

181&    - 

-     1847    - 

-     65 

Obadiah  "\YoodrufF,  - 

1820     - 

-     1842     - 

-    74 

Hugh  McDougal,tt  - 

1820 

Moses  Smith, 

1820     - 

-     1833     - 

-     52 

Jesse  Baldwin, 

1824     - 

-     1839     - 

-     81 

John  Poinier, 

1824    - 

-     1834     - 

-     66 

Isaac  N.  Beach, 

1824    - 

-     1835     - 

-     45 

Aaron  Nichols, 

1832 

Archibald  Woodruff, 

1832 

Peter  Jacobus, 

1832 

Charles  C.  Williams,|t 

1832 

John  Taylor, 

1843 

Uzal  J.  Tuttle, 

1843 

Samuel  P.  Smith,§§  - 

1843 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Jr.,i|| 

1843 

Joseph  N.  Tuttle,      - 

1852 

Dcraas  Colton,          r 

1852 

Preserved  H.  Porter, 

1852 

Cornelius  I.  Jacobus, 

1852 

" 

*  Removed  to  the  State  of  New  York 
in  1800,  aud  became  an  Elder  there, 
t  Dismissed  to  the  Third  Church,  1324. 
X  Removed  to  the  Second  Church. 
§  Dismissed  to  the  Third  Church,  1824. 
II    Removed  to  Springfield  about  181G. 
1,1   Licensed  to  preach,  1825. 


■■■^'  Dismissed  to  the  Second  Church, 
1825. 

ft  Dismissed  to  the  Third  Church. 

Xt  Removed  West. 

§§  Removed  to  form  the  South  Park 
Church,  1853. 

Ilil  Removed  to  Orange,  1851. 


APPENDIX. 


315 


DEAC().\S. 

Lawrence  Ward, 
Michael  Tompkins,   - 
Richard  Lawrence,    - 
Azariah  Crane, 
Joseph  Canficld, 
James  Wheeler,* 
vSamucl  Ailing,* 
Stephen  Baldwin, 
Caleb  Wheeler, 
Ebenezer  Baldwin,    - 
Stephen  Baldwin, 
Ephraim  Morris,!     - 
Isaac  Ailing, 
James  Tichenor, 
Isaac  Nichols, 
Obadiah  Woodruff, 
Aaron  Nichols, 
WUliam  Tuttle, 
Jos.  C.  Hornblowcr, 
John  Taylor, 


Chosen. 


1794 
1794 
1802 


1824 


1852 
1852 


Died. 
1G09 
1690 
1G91 
1730 
1733 
1747 
1793 
1783 
1793 
1801 
1816 

1819 
1839 

1842 

1847 


Age. 


83 
52 
03 
95 

70 
70 
77 
74 

70 
68 

74 

65 


*  From  an  old  deed  I  learn  that  James  Wheeler  and  Samuel  Ailing  were  Deacons 
as  early  as  I" 44. 
+  Removed  to  Bloomfield. 


TRUSTEES  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  NEWARK. 

Ihose  designated  l]j  sjiall  capitals  were  Presidents  of  the  IJoard. 


Christopher  Wood, 

John  Crane, 

Nathaniel  Camp, 

Joseph  Camp, 

Jonathan  Sergeant, 

Joseph  Riggs, 

Israel  Crane, 

Sam'l  Pennington,  resigned  1781 

Thos.  Canfield, 

Caleb  Wheeler, 

Samuel  Curry, 

Benjamin  Coe, 


Appointed. 

-     1753 


Caleb  Camp,  junior, 
Joseph  Baldwin, 
Joseph  Alling, 
Alexander  Eagles, 
Elisiia  Boudixot, 
John  Johnson, 
Isaac  Alling, 
Joseph  Davis, 
Nathaniel  Beach, 
prior  to  1781     Daniel  Johnson, 
"    1781     Jesse  Baldwin, 
"    1781     Nathaniel  Beach, 


Appointed. 

-  1781 

-  1781 
prior  to  1783 

-  1783 

-  1784 

-  1786 

-  1787 

-  1788 

-  1793 

-  1787 

-  1787 

-  1793 


316 


APPENDIX. 


Trustees. 

Appointed. 

Trustees. 

Appointed. 

Abraham  Ward, 

-     1790 

John  Poinier, 

-     1820 

John  Burnet, 

-     1795 

James  Bruen, 

-     1820 

Joseph  Brown, 

-     1790 

Aaron  Nichols, 

-     1822 

Joseph  Camp, 

-     1790 

Caleb  S.  Riggs, 

-     1823 

Caleb  Wheeler, 

-     1797 

Frederick  S.  Thomas,    - 

-     1820 

Nathaniel  Camp, 

-     1797 

William  Pennington,  - 

-     1827 

John  N.  Gumming, 

-     1798 

Philo  Sanford, 

-     1828 

Samuel  Whitaker, 

-     1798 

Peter  Jacobus, 

-     1828 

Samuel  Play, 

-     1801 

Isaac  Baldwin, 

-     1832 

Moses  Roberts, 

-     1801 

Jedediah  J.  Baldwin,     - 

-     1833 

Jeremiah  Baldwin, 

-     1802 

John  W.  Poinier, 

-     1833 

Moses  Baldwin, 

-     1802 

Gabriel  Tichenor, 

-     1834 

Stephen  Hays, 

-     1802 

James  H.  Robinson, 

-     1835 

Joseph  T.  Baldwin, 

-     1805 

Joseph  A.  Halsey, 

-     1830 

Isaac  Andruss, 

-     1800 

P.  H.  Porter, 

-     1836 

Robert  B.  Campfield,     - 

-     1809 

Moses  B.  Coe, 

-     1837 

Nehcmiah  Baldwin, 

-     1809 

Lyndon  A.  Smith, 

-     1838 

James  Heddcn, 

-     1811 

Joseph  N.  Tuttle, 

-     1841 

David  Nichols, 

-     1811 

Samuel  H.  Pennington, 

-     1841 

Lewis  Thibou, 

-     1811 

Charles  S.  Macknet, 

-     1840 

Uzal  Sayres, 

-     1812 

Demas  Colton, 

-     1851 

Sn.AS  CONDIT, 

-     1812 

Horace  H,  Nichols, 

-     1851 

David  Tichenor, 

-     1815 

Ira  M.  Harrison, 

-     1852 

Caleb  Carter, 

-     1817 

Algernon  S.  Ilubbell,    - 

-     1853 

Moses  Smith, 

-     1818 

William  Shugard, 

-     1853 

John  Taylor, 

-     1820 

Some  of  the  persons  in  the  above  list  served  but  a  single  year ;  others 
two  or  three  years.  Some  were  re-elected  several  times,  with  greater  or 
less  intervals. 


The  Bulding  Committee  who  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  present 
house  of  worship,  were — 


Caleb  Wheeler, 
Caleb  Camp, 
Nathaniel  Camp, 
Joseph  Banks, 


William  P.  Smith, 
Samuel  Hayes, 
Benjamin  Coe, 
Joseph  Davis, 


Moses  Farrand, 
Isaac  Plum, 
Abiel  Camfiekl, 
Abraham  Ward, 


Isaac  Ailing, 


Daniel  Johnson. 


^ 


R  E  F  E  R  E  N  C  E  S 

To  tlie  Town  Tlot  and  Home  Lots  of  the  First  Settlers  of  Pcsayak  T.)wnc 
— New  Work,  or  Newark — in  1006-1680: 


A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 

a 

IT 
1 


Tn  TnE  North  East  Skction 

Demon  Laurance  Ward. 
John  Cathn.     [1] 
Samuel  Kitchell. 
Josiah  "Ward. 
John  Ro";ers. 


Robert  Kitchell. 
Jeremiah  Pecke. 
Obadiah  Rnien. 
Tlio  Seaman's  Lot. 


%t 


[•^] 


J  Thomas  Richards. 

K  John  Harrison. 

L  "^Aaron  Blatchlj^ 

JIT  Stephen  Davis. 

N  Samuel  Plum. 

0  John  Crane. 

P  The  Boatman's  Lot. 

Q  Robert  Lvmon. 

7i'  John  Davis. 


[3] 


Ix  TUE  North  West  Skctiox. 


A  Lieutenant 'i^amwfA  Swaine. 

B  Serjeant  Ricliard  Harrison. 

C  Edward  Ball. 

D  John  Morris,  in  lOOs. 

E  John  Ward,  senior. 

F  Matthew  Camfield. 

G  Abraham  Pierson,  junior. 

Jl  Jasper  Crane. 

/  Thomas  Pierson,  i^enior. 

J  Benjamin  Baldwin. 

K  Thomas  Huntington. 


L  Alexander  Munrow. 

M  The  Elders'  Lot.     [4] 

K  John  Ward,  j  unW,  the  turner. 

(>  Deacon  Richard  Laui  ancc. 

P  Delivered  Crane. 

Q  Hans  Albcrs. 

It  Samuel  Rose. 

S  The  Millers  Lot.     [5] 

T  Samuel  Dod. 

n  Daniel  Dod. 

V  The  Corn  Mill. 


Tx  THE  South  E.vst  Skctiox. 

A  r(/;>^rr//)  J^obert  Treat.     [0]  E    George  Day. 

B  Abraham  Pierson,  SfH /or.  F    Nathaniel  Wheeler. 

C  Robert  Denison.  O    Joseph  Riggs. 

D  Thomas  Johnson.  H    Williani  Camp. 


318 


EEFEREjSTCES. 


/  Martin  Tichenor. 

/  Stephen  Freeman. 

K  John  Curtis.     [7] 

L  John  Baldwin,  senior. 

M  Thomas  Staples. 

JSF  John  Baldwin,  junior. 

0  Deacon  Michael  Tomkins. 

P  Jonathan  Tomkins. 


Q    Ephraim  Pennington. 
a    Seth  Tomkins. 
-S'     The  Tailor's  Lot.     [8] 
T    Thomas  Pierson,  junior. 

U    Samuel  Hamson. 

V    John  Browne,  jimior. 

W   Edward  Riggs. 
X    Hugh  Roberts. 


In  the  South  West  Section. 


A 

The  Meeting  House  Lot. 

[9] 

Z 

B 

Captain  Treat's  extra. 

[10] 

M 

C 

John  Johnson. 

iV 

D 

Parsonage  Home  Lot. 

[11] 

0 

E 

John  Browne,  senior. 

p 

F 

Stephen  Bond. 

Q 

a 

Zachariah  Burwell. 

R 

H 

Ephraim  Burwell. 

S 

I 

Thomas  Ludington. 

T 

J 

John  Brooks. 

U 

K 

Thomas  Lyon. 

Joseph  Johnson. 

John  Treat. 

John  Gregory.     [12] 

Henry  Lyon. 

Joseph  Walters. 

Samuel  Camfield. 

Robert  Dalglish,  (Douglass.) 

Francis  Linsley. 

Matthew  Williams.     [13] 

Walter's  second  division. 


$ 


NEWORKE    „„      PESAVAK    T0WNE._1666_1680 


NOTES. 

[1]    In  IGOo  granted  to  the  Rev.  John  Prudden. 

[•2 J    In  1073  granted  by  the  town  to  Ebcnezer  Dod.  .'^ 

[o]    In  1G70  Jonathan  Sergeant's  "by  exchange."  "  •  ^ 

[4]  Granted  to  Jolm  "Ward,  junior,  and  John  Johnson,  in  1G78,  for  their 
sons. 

[b]    In  1083  one-half  Richard  Harrison's  "by  exchange." 

[0[    In  1G73  Azariah  Crane's,  the  son-in-law  of  Captain  Robert  Treat. 

[7]  "John  Curtis  hath  for  his  home-lot  six  acres,  be  it  more  or  less,  being 
bounded  with  Stephen  Freeman,  north ;  John  Bauldwin,  senior, 
south ;  the  highway  west,  and  y'  town  swamp  east,  about  two  or 
three  rods  in  y''  swamp  east." — (Toicn  Book)  On  th'S  tract  is. the 
present  parsonage  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  It  175 G  it  was 
the  property  of  Mr.  Burr.     In  1738  it  was  Mr.  Webb's. 

[8]    In  1G72  granted  to  Samuel  Lyon. 

]9]  "All  that  small  tract  allotted  for  the  burying-place  taking  in  the  pond 
and  meeting-house,  being  seven  chains  in  length  and  four  in  breadth, 
bounded  west  by  John  Treat,  south  by  John  Johnson,  north  and  east 
by  highways." — Town  Patent,  1G96. 

[10  J    "  If  Oil.     Mr.  Robert  Treat  had  given  him  two  acres  of  land  in  y"  town 

plot,  near  the  frog-poad,  in  heu  of  his  great and  expense  with 

y  Indians  about  purchasing  y=  lands,  which  is  bounded  with  y"  high- 
ways west  and  north,  and  y°  pond  and  swamp  cast  and  south." — 
Toicn  Boole. 

[11]  "A  home  lot,  in  length  ten  chains,  breadth  at  the  east  and  middle 
three  chains  lacking  six  feet,  and  at  the  west  end  four  chains  and 
three-quarters." — {Toion  Patent.)  On  this  stood  the  parsonage 
house  occupied  by  Mr.  Burr,  and  in  which  Dr.  Macwhortcr  died. 


•r 


320  '  NOTES. 

[12]  111  1G88  the  Town  sold  to  Henry  Lyon  "that  home  lot  that  was  for- 
merly John  Gregory's  by  exchange,  that  lycth  next  his  own  consist- 
ing of  seven  acres,  for  Ten  Pounds,  seven  pounds  whereof  he  is  to 
pay  by  discharging  the  Town  of  their  country  rate,  and  three  pounds 
he  is  to  procure  shingle  .nails  for,  as  soon  as  he  can,  or  to  do  his  true 
endeavour  to  get  them." — Toirn  Record. 

[13]  In  1G80,  ten  acres,  part  of  a  second  division. 

The  road  to  "  the  landing-place,"  now  Fulton  street,  was  laid  out  in  1676, 
and  again  in  1735. 

High  street  was  laid  out  and  stakecl  "as  the  path  runs"  in  1695,  two  rods 
wide. 

The  line  of  asterisks  indicate  the  location  of  the  common  fence  for  the 
protection  of  "the  neck,"  of  which  each  planter  maintained  his  just  propor- 
tion as  determined  by  a  committee. 

The  engraver  has  made  the  biook  from  the  town  swamp  run  into  the 
river,  which  is  incorrect. 

The  sketch  on  the  left  hand  represents  the  second  meeting-house,  iu  which 
David  Brainerd  was  ordained.  That  on  the  right,  with  armed  men  watch- 
ing, the  first  meeting-house,  "  30  feet  square."  The  number,  size,  form  and 
position  of  the  windows  and  doors  in  the  latter  is  uncertain. 


Princeton   Theological  Seminary -Speer   Library 


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